Andhra Pradesh   

Protest against industrial corridor foiled

CHIRALA: Police foiled the attempts of the CPI, CPI (M), CPI (M-L), RPI and TDP on Wednesday to protest against the acquisition of 28,000 acres of land for the industrial corridor in Guntur and Prakasam districts, depriving lakhs of small and medium farmers of their resource.

The all-party committee gave a call to lay siege to the Vodarevu and Nizampatnam port and Industrial Corridor (VANPIC) office here on Wednesday to protest against land acquisition on such a large scale by a private agency with the help of the government.

But the police virtually laid siege to Chirala town since Tuesday night and deployed nearly 1,000 men to enforce prohibitory orders declared under Section 144 Cr. PC. They took some leaders into preventive custody on Tuesday night and made it clear that they would not allow any congregation of crowds.

CPI State secretary K. Narayana was the first to arrive at the VANPIC office with a contingent of 20 party workers.

Police overpowered the leaders and shifted them to the Ipurupalem police station. CPI (M) activists led by Guntur district party secretary Rama Devi arrived, while RPI leader Bojja Tarakam was arrested.

After a tussle and lathicharge, police also removed 50 activists belonging to the CPI (ML) and PDSU and shifted them to the police station.

Speaking to reporters at the police station, Mr Narayana said that there was no clarity on the industries proposed in the corridor and the extent of land they would require. Yet, it was lending all help to a private agency to acquire 28,000 acres.

It proposed two ports at Nizampatnam and Vodarevu, one shipyard and two thermal power stations.

He said that it is nothing but a real estate venture in which the government is acting as a “broker”.

The private organisation that is buying the land for a song would sell the same to industries at a higher price.

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