VIZIANAGARAM: The long-delayed construction of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Park at Kottakki in Ramabhadrapuram mandal is set to resume after the Andhra Pradesh government resolved the land dispute involving tribal farmers.
The government has sanctioned a compensation package of Rs 35 lakh for 28 affected tribal farmers. Revenue officials have also assured them that their original lands covered under the Recognition of Forest Rights (RoFR) Act will be identified on the ground and restored to them for cultivation.
The State government has proposed the MSME Park on nearly 100 acres in Kottakki revenue village. MSME, SERP and NRI Relations and Empowerment Minister Kondapalli Srinivas laid the foundation stone for the project on May 10, 2026, along with Vizianagaram MP Kalisetti Appala Naidu and Bobbili MLA RVSKK Rangarao (Baby Nayana).
The government sanctioned Rs 7 crore for developing the first phase of the park, covering 10 acres with basic infrastructure. However, work came to a halt after tribal residents of Mirtivalasa protested against the acquisition of land, alleging that they were being evicted despite holding RoFR pattas.
The proposed MSME Park has a long history. The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) acquired 187.12 acres at Kakarlavalasa in 2015 for the project during the previous TDP government. However, the park could not be developed due to administrative delays.
Subsequently, the YSRCP government granted RoFR pattas to 91 tribal families covering about 390 acres, including portions of the proposed MSME Park site. The beneficiaries have been cultivating the land for the past five years. After the NDA coalition government resumed the project, officials initiated the process of taking possession of the land based on a Government Order issued in 2017. This triggered protests by tribal residents of Mirtivalasa, who demanded compensation before surrendering their land.
According to revenue officials, 28 farmers from Kareduvalasa and Kakarlavalasa hold RoFR pattas within the proposed project area. The dispute had stalled the project for several months.
Following representations by Minister Kondapalli Srinivas and Bobbili MLA Baby Nayana, the State government approved a compensation package of Rs 35 lakh, providing Rs 1.25 lakh each to the 28 affected farmers.
Revenue officials also assured the beneficiaries that their original podu lands would be physically identified and handed back to them for cultivation.
Speaking to The New Indian Express, Bobbili Revenue Divisional Officer Ramamohana Rao said, “Based on the recommendations of Minister Kondapalli Srinivas and MLA Baby Nayana, we submitted proposals to the government for a relief package. The government promptly released the funds, and we have distributed the compensation to the affected tribal farmers through cheques. We expect the contractor to resume work on the MSME Park shortly.”
