YSRC president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy on Wednesday said that land acquisition for the Machilipatnam port was different from that for Vanpic port project.
He added that the land allotted to Vanpic Ports Private Limited in Prakasam district was barren, while the that to be acquired for the Machilipatnam port was fertile. “The government is acting as a facilitator in the Vanpic project, while it plans to acquire fertile land for the Machilipatnam port project by threatening people with a lapsed land ordinance,” Mr. Reddy said.
“The government has no right to lay claim on assigned land, as it was given to beneficiaries at some point of time. The package offered for private land should also be given to assigned land for the Machilipatnam project,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader said the YSRC would stand by people affected by land acquisition for the industrial corridor in Machilipatnam, besides joining them in waging a legal battle against the government. “The government should play the role of a facilitator between people and the project proponents instead of being a land grabber. Acquiring lakhs of acres forcibly in the name of development is a big scandal of the present times under the aegis of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his aides,” Mr. Reddy said.
He added that the government could not acquire even a piece of private land unless there is consensus among people and the government.
Warns of serious consequences
Meanwhile, speaking at Potlapalem, Mr. Reddy warned of serious consequences if the government went ahead with acquiring private land for the Machilipatnam port and industrial corridor projects.
He interacted with farmers during a meeting at Pedda Karagraharam, Tummalacheruvu and Potlapalem villages in Machilipatnam mandal. Addressing a gathering at the village, Mr. Reddy promised to be part of protests by affected people. “The government can go ahead with the port project by promising at least Rs. 30 lakh compensation per acre. The YSRC welcomes the port project, but the government should withdraw its plan to acquire the rest of the land for the industrial corridor,” Mr. Reddy said.
Later, addressing farmers at Tummalacheruvuthe YSRC chief accused the government of acquiring huge tracts of fertile land to be handed over to corporates in the name of development. Pamarru MLA U. Kalpana, former Machilipatnam MLA Perni Nani and Kolusu Parthasarathy accompanied Mr. Reddy.
