AP to Procure 30,000 Acres For Bandar Port

Despite protests, cabinet gives nod for procurement of land

HYDERABAD:Two days after a massive protest by villagers near Machilipatnam opposing the government’s move to acquire their farm lands for developing the Machilipatnam Port and an industrial hub in Krishna district, the State Cabinet on Saturday reportedly gave its nod for procurement of about 30,000 acres of land from local people for development of the port.

The State Cabinet, which met here on Saturday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, is learnt to have given the green signal for procurement of land from local farmers in Krishna district for port development.

“In the first phase, the government will procure about 14,000 acres from local farmers near Machilipatnam and Bantumilli,” a senior minister told reporters after the meeting.

The Cabinet also extended the contract of the Machilipatnam Port Private Limited to develop the port, awarded in 2010, for another 36 months.

Briefing newsmen, IT Minister P Raghunatha Reddy said the revenue department was to acquire 5,324 acres and hand it over to the company for the port development. Since only 524 acres were acquired so far the developer could not complete the project.

“Now the revenue department has been asked to procure the entire land required so that the developer can complete the project in 36 months,” he said.

Reddy said there was no need for land owners to get agitated as Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had assured that justice would be done to the people who give up their lands for the development of port.

Other Decisions

■ To allocate 1,878 acres for Kakinada SEZ and complete it within 36 months

■ 505 acres to be allotted to Divis Laboratories in East Godavari district

■ 264 acres in Anantapur district to set up an electronic industrial cluster at a cost of Rs 450 cr

■ Allotment of 1,750 acres in Vizag to Unitex International Knowledge City cancelled for non-payment of total land cost

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com