Kakinada: Agitation against Divi's pharma unit gains momentum

Kakinada: CPM State Secretary P Madhu has strongly condemned the establishment of a pharma unit (Divi's Laboratory) in Kona area of Thondangi mandal in East Godavari district.

CPI and CPM extended their support to Divi's Vyatireka Porata Committee which is opposing the pharma unit in the area. Hundreds of people participated in protest and agitation at Kothapakalu village on Thursday. They raised slogans like "Divi's Pharma Unit go back", protect the environment and aqua culture.

Madhu expressed his anguish over the innumerable cases foisted on the agitators by the TDP government in the past. They also resorted to cruel unjustified beating by the police during the TDP regime. Despite their harsh and ruthless treatment, the agitators showed great tolerance and successfully managed to drive away the proposal to establish a pharma unit in Kona area. He wondered why the present Jagan Mohan Reddy's government again resorted to establish the Divi's laboratory in the area. Madhu commented that under any circumstances the lab should not be established in that place.

Divi's Vyatireka Porata Committee honorary president Matla Musalaiah demanded that Tuni MLA Dadisetti Raja should step down and participate in the agitation against the establishment of the lab. Then the confidence of the people in him would be restored and respect accorded to him. He commented that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy took U-turn and supported the previous government's stand on the continuation of Divi's lab.

AP Rythu Sangam vice-president P Narasimha Rao stated that the farmers and agriculture workers and other labourers will incur great loss and their environment will be spoiled, if the unit is established.

He said that the Rythu Sangham and the CPM would give support to the people. He said that Jagan should not have taken U-turn in the Divi's issue. "The farmers are cultivating multi-crops like casuarinas, cashew and mango gardens, toddy palm fruits and others. The youth and women are working in aqua firms as there are nearly 250 hatcheries in the seashore. Many of the environmentalists say that the pharma units are ruining the atmosphere and polluting the groundwater, air and others.

Narasimha Rao questioned how CM Jagan allowed Divi's to establish the unit in the area. He said that they won't believe in the words of any leaders and they are prepared to lay down their lives for the sake of non-establishment of the pharma unit.

Kakinada Special Economic Zone leader Subbi Reddy commented that in view of the availability of the abundant fish in this region, the establishment of the lab would destroy such fish wealth. He also questioned that when the case is pending in the court, how could they plan to establish the lab. At any cost they are prepared to protest and agitate against the laying of the foundation stone by the CM on December 7.

CPI district secretary T Madhu said that his party would continue the agitation until the Divi's withdraw the setting up of the unit in the area.