The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : SEZ row simmers

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Thursday, May 15, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

SEZ row simmers

Staff Reporter

Kakinada: The proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Kakinada has once again shot into limelight following the arrest of two representatives of the SEZ Vyatireka Porata Samiti at U. Kotthapalli on Tuesday. Three more anti-SEZ activists could not be arrested as they were out of station, according to the police.

The arrests were said to be an attempt to prevent the anti-SEZ activists from deposing before a team of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), which had accepted complaints of alleged coercion of the villagers to give their lands for the SEZ and adoption of deceitful means to acquire the said lands.

According to reliable sources, a team of SHRC is scheduled to visit Kakinada in a few days to look into the entire gamut of issues pertaining to relief and rehabilitation of those facing displacement, on the basis of complains made by them earlier.

The main contention was that the process of acquiring land for the SEZ was flawed as the villagers were kept in the dark about the prescribed procedures.

Besides, no specific assurance was made that the villagers would be adequately compensated for the impending loss.

Yet, the government went ahead with the project execution in alleged violation of the basic rights of the people, it was alleged.

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Andhra Pradesh