Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Chances of district getting marine products’ SEZ bleak

VIJAYAWADA: Even as the fate of the Machilipatnam Port hangs in balance in view of the doubts being expressed over Ramalinga Raju-promoted Maytas Infra’s ability to implement the project, the chances of Krishna district getting an exclusive “value-added marine products” Special Economic Zone are becoming more remote.

The Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL & FS) has certified the 260 acres identified within the limits of Karagraharam village near Machilipatnam for the purpose as “not so ideal”.

The Andhra Pradesh Government and the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) were supposed to jointly develop the SEZ under the guidance of IL & FS. Minister for Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Mandali Buddha Prasad, who actively pursued the idea, argued that the setting up of the SEZ would be a shot in the arm for Krishna district, “which has been subject to negligence by the Telugu Desam Government.” The SEZ was to create 10,000 jobs and bring prosperity to the district, he felt.

However, sources in the MPEDA said that marine product exporters, who were based mostly in Visakhapatnam, have been lobbying against the establishment of the SEZ near Machilipatnam from the very inception. They succeeded in preventing the establishment of the SEZ in Machilipatnam by projecting it as a cyclone-prone area.

The IL & FS, which had the final word on the location, stayed clear of the controversy, but gave “an equally flimsy reason” when it said that the 260 acres earmarked for the SEZ was “low-lying” and there was no provision for land-filling in the project cost, a senior officer of the MPEDA said.

The MPEDA initially favoured the land at Karagraharam in Krishna district because it was entirely Government-owned and there would, therefore, be no opposition to it either from farmers or the Left parties that have been opposing SEZs because of the dislocation they were causing.

The IL & FS had recommended the establishment of the same in East Godavari, the MPEDA sources said.

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