Farmers oppose land pooling for Machilipatnam Port

​Machilipatnam: The port project proposed at Machilipatnam in Krishna district triggered wide-spread fears over massive displacement. The farmers from coastal villages raised serious concerns over the loss of their fertile agriculture lands at Dasa – Disa programme organised by HMTV here on Saturday.

A cross section of people, civil society represenattives, political leaders including former Minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao, YSRCP former MLA Perni Venkata Ramaiah (Nani), TDP district president B Arjunudu, CPM leader Kodali Sarma, Congress leader Madhavi and others participated in the programme.
Most of the participants have categorically made it clear that they would oppose the port, if the government forcibly take their lands.

They said they are not against the construction of the port and industrial development in the region but they oppose forcibly taking of land. The farmers said they had been facing many problems since the developments unfolded during the last three months over the construction of the port.

They said they could not sell their lands due to the ban imposed by the government on registrations. They expressed apprehensions that thousands of families would be disturbed, if their lands were taken by the government, forcibly.

A Narasimha Rao of Vatlapalem village said he owns 2.50 acres land and categorically made it clear he would not give the land to the government because he would use the land for his daughter’s marriage. He asked the government not to take the land forcibly from the farmers.

P Nagaraju of Chinakaragraharam said that they were not against the construction of port and asked the government to use its own land for construction of the port. He demanded that the government should take land under the land acquisition act and pay proper compensation to the farmers as per the rules.

Another villager Brahmaiah of Bhairavapalem said he can’t live without his land and strongly opposed the land pooling scheme of the government. “We are hardworking people and we don’t want cars and buildings as promised by the local political leaders,” he added.

YSRCP leader and former MLA Perni Nani said he would not oppose the construction of port but he was opposing forcible acquisition of 33,000 acres land for construction of port and industrial corridor.

He reminded the TDP leaders have opposed the same, when the Congress government tried to construct the port in 4,800 acres. He asked the government to clarify why it was taking 33,000 acres land instead of 4,800 acres.

Former Minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao opposed the land pooling scheme. He said a new port in Chennai was being constructed in 500 acres of land and another port was built in Mumbai in only 150 acres land. He questioned why the TDP government was eagerly trying to take thousands of acres land for port and industrial corridor.

CPM leader Kodali Sarma stated that Singapore major port was built in only 1,800 acres with 84 berths.Meanwhile, TDP district president B Arjunudu made it clear the government would not forcibly take the lands from the people.

“The government informed people that the 33,000 acres land would be used for industrial development. It is taking lands, now as price will shoot up in future,” he added. Congress party leader Madhavi said there is no need to get 33,000 acres land for construction of port.

She said the Congress party was not against the construction of the port but would oppose the land pooling scheme. The debate was moderated by P Venkata Krishna Chief Editor (Debates and Discussions).