The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : SEZ-affected look to Medha Patkar

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Friday, Sep 21, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

SEZ-affected look to Medha Patkar

Correspondent

Plan interactive sessions with villagers

BJP leader seeks better rehabilitation package
Acquisition of fertile lands opposed

Kakinada: The SEZ-affected ryots are anxiously waiting for the clear-cut direction of Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao leader, during her coming visit to SEZ-affected villages scheduled for October 3.

The all-party committee spearheading the agitation against the SEZ also wants Medha Patkar’s visit utilised to derive optimum benefit bringing a psychological change among displaced people.

The committee members as well as the ryots, at their joint meeting here on Thursday with P Chiranjivini Kumari, head of the Spandana organisation presiding, unanimously decided to enable Ms. Medha Patkar to have a clear understanding of the things, on the plight of the displaced, arranging interactive sessions with villagers in U. Kothapalli and Thondangi mandals. Rajendra, chief organiser of Kadali network, said that during their visit to New Delhi in August they had apprised Medha Patkar of the situation in the villages and the impending adverse affects of SEZ on the ecology and how the traditional fishermen would be permanently getting displaced besides agricultural labourers.

He said SEZ would bring disastrous affects on the entire population as such needed to be opposed.

Abolition sought

In support of his argument, he cited how the Reliance gas project in Gadimoga area already started showing its adverse affect with several labourers eking their livelihood on salt production getting displaced. Bugata Bangarraju, secretary, Vyavasaya Coolie Sangham and CPI (ML) Liberation, which is spearheading the land struggles in the district, said their party was totally opposed to SEZ and wanted the abolition of the SEZ act.

He said people in the SEZ villages would face distress with losing all their lands and forced to leave the villages. Y Malakondaiah, BJP vice-president, said they were not opposed to SEZ but wanted a better relief and rehabilitation package to the displaced.

He said fertile lands should not be acquired. Promising full support to the ryots, he claimed that because of the highlighting work, the human rights commission had stalled the forcible evacuation of villages by serving notices to government.

Chinta Suryanarayana Murthy and Ravisetti Peda Kapu, Rythu leaders, Sai, Bhanojirao and MV Subbarao BJP city leaders attended.

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