: Tension prevailed at the Kovvada ‘grama sabha’ organised on Tuesday by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited and the Revenue Department which sought locals’ nod for taking up land survey for the construction of atomic power plant in Ranasthalam mandal of the district. Leaders of the CPI, CPI(M) and a few locals demanded that the ‘unofficial’ ban on land transactions lifted immediately. They also demanded implementation of all government schemes which were stopped in five villages after the proposal for the atomic power plant was made.
Left parties leaders, including MLC MVS Sarma, Ch.Narasinga Rao, Bhaviri Krishna Murthy, and Chapara Venkata Ramana, alleged that the NPCIL had not yet got the site approval from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and it had no right to conduct village-level meetings in the name of awareness programmes over the package to be given under the new Land Acquisition Act. They alleged that the government failed to resolve the problems of displaced persons of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and Gangavaram Port and similar issues would crop up in the case of Kovvada also. “The Government has no right to conduct the grama sabha since it has no legal validity,” said Mr. Sarma and Mr. Narasinga Rao. They asked NPCIL officials to show the AERB’s permission letter for construction of the atomic power plant.
Compensation promised
Earlier, Special Deputy Collector J. Sitarama Raju, Srikakulam Revenue Divisional Officer B. Dayanidhi said that the government would pay around Rs.13 lakh per acre and Rs.18 lakh for rehabilitation of each family. They also promised compensation for the locals who took up agriculture activity in government land. “Unnecessary opposition to land survey will lead to denial of legitimate compensation for locals. It has happened in many cases, including the Vamsadhara project. I request locals to support the land survey so that the updating of records and changes of property owners can be made,” said Mr. Dayanidhi. The officials clarified that a public hearing would be held separately and the grama sabha was meant to create awareness about the land survey and the compensation package.
Heavy police force was deployed from Kosta to Kovvada. CITU district general secretary D. Govinda Rao and others entered into heated arguments with the police personnel for stopping their vehicles. A few villagers feared that the land acquisition would not be confined to Kovvada, Tekkali and Kotapalem as huge extent of land is required for laying transmission lines. Police intervened several times when heated arguments took place between Left leaders and officials. A few local leaders, including Mylapalli Polisu and M. Adinarayana, welcomed the package, but sought updating of revenue records.
