Andhra Pradesh government orders return of 2,180 acres of land to farmers

The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday issued an order for returning 2,180 acres of land, which was originally sought to be acquired for the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) way back in 2007, to the farmers following a protracted struggle.

The farmers who owned the land refused to part with their property nor receive compensation and carried out an agitation for many years.

Based on the recommendations made by a six-member committee headed by Agriculture Minister K Kanna Babu, the government ordered that the 2,180 acres of land be returned to the farmers so that the KSEZ could go ahead and industries established.

The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry notified the KSEZ in the year 2007 for establishing a port-based Multiproduct SEZ spread over several villages under U Kothapalli and Thondangi mandals in the East Godavari district.

The KSEZ could not take off as intended because of many unresolved issues, mainly that related to land. As the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government sought to fast- track the KSEZ project, it constituted a six-member committee to talk to the aggrieved farmers and resolve the issues.

The committee submitted its final report to the government last month and the Cabinet approved it in toto. Accordingly, the Industries and Commissioner Department Special Chief Secretary R Karikal Valaven issued an order stating that habitations in Srirampuram, Badipeta, Mummidivaripadu, Pativaripalem, Ravivaripadu and Ramaraghavapuram (part) villages would not be disturbed.

Only in the case of Ramaraghavapuram, the habitations could be shifted to Ravivaripadu village if necessary, he said. On the committee's recommendation, the government ordered payment of total compensation of Rs 10 lakh per acre for 657 acres of assigned lands that were taken for the KSEZ in Kona village.

The committee also recommended payment of the same amount of compensation for assigned lands taken for the Divis unit in the region. The patta lands in these villages would also be removed from the list of prohibited properties that would enable sale and purchase.

The Special Chief Secretary said the AP Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries and Factories Act, 2019 has to be implemented providing 75 per cent of jobs (in KSEZ) to the local unemployed youth.

The KSEZ would also have to establish a skill development centre for the locals to acquire necessary skills fit for the employment.

The government also directed that industries proposed to be set up in KSEZ or in the vicinity, including the Divis Labs unit, take all necessary precautions for proper treatment of effluents and shift the marine outfall to a farther point so as not to adversely affect the local hatcheries.