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AP CM gives knee-jerk reaction to Pawan’s comments
In what could be viewed as a knee-jerk reaction, the Chief Minister hurriedly called for a meeting with the collector Bhaskar Katamaneni, local MLA Pulaparthi Ramanjaneyulu (Anjibabu) and officials from the Fisheries Department and Marine Products Export Development Authority to take stock of the perceived pollution hazards in the unit in the wake of hard-hitting address of JSP chief at a media co
Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday promised to ensure fool-proof measures against pollution hazards feared to be caused by the Rs 800 crore Godavari Aqua Mega Food Park coming up at Thundurru near Bhimavaram in West Godavari district.Naidu’s assurance came close on the heels of support extended by his ally and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan to the anti Food Park protesters.
In what could be viewed as a knee-jerk reaction, the Chief Minister hurriedly called for a meeting with the collector Bhaskar Katamaneni, local MLA Pulaparthi Ramanjaneyulu (Anjibabu) and officials from the Fisheries Department and Marine Products Export Development Authority to take stock of the perceived pollution hazards in the unit in the wake of hard-hitting address of JSP chief at a media conference.
It should be recalled that Pawan warned that the factory, threatening to decimate the livelihoods of poor people being promoted by a group belonging to Kashatriya community would widen the caste divide in the sensitive twin Godavari districts. The incidentally, most of the project victims hail from the backward fishermen communities.
The issue assumes political colours with Kapus roping in their caste icon and actor Pawan Kalyan, triggering caste polarisation. The sailing of Kapus with the predominant BC is not smooth normally. But they join the weaker sections when it comes to a fight with the prosperous and influential Kshatriyas. Interestingly, the anti-food park protest unified Kapus and BCs against the promoters of the food park.
This is the third time Pawan Kalyan spearheaded movement on people’s issues. The Naidu government was forced to give up the alleged coercive methods for land mobilisation from farmers for the capital following a showdown by Pawan in Kapu dominated villages of Vundavalli, Mandadam and Penumaka. Pawan led a massive rally on quota for Kapus in Kakinada later. Pawan Kalyan, in an indirect reference to BJP MP from Narsapur Gokaraju Ganga Raju of polluting the Godavari river and its canal system by patronising the Food Park on contrary to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mission to cleanse the Ganga.
In a bid to soften Pawan’s ruffled feathers, the Chief Minister said the administration will take every measure to save the people in the district from the pollution hazards. He even proposed to cleanse the Y-drain which has become another Musi in view of the effluents let out by industries upstream.
Incidentally, the protesters, backed by the Left parties, are raising a hue and cry over the food park polluting the drain further. Naidu constituted a committee headed by collector with the local MLA as member to study into the concerns expressed by Pawan over the project. The officials however clarified that the park could not be shifted to some other place as the management has already invested Rs 25 crore.
