Environmental activists, NGOs, fishermen's associations, some political parties were among those who have expressed their opposition to a proposed petroleum, chemicals, petrochemicals investment region between Visakhapatnam and Kakinada.
At a meeting here on Thursday, Mr J.V. Ratnam, an environmental activist, said the Andhra Pradesh Petroleum, Chemicals, Petro-chemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) will ruin the fragile coastal environs, adversely affecting agriculture, fisheries and other activities. The livelihood of fishermen, farmers and other sections will be jeopardised. “The Government is adopting a destructive model of development,” he said.
The PCPIR will cover more than a hundred villages between the two port towns.
Mr Ratnam said there was no water for the proposed units in the PCPIR and water meant for Kakinada and Visakhapatnam towns would be diverted to the units.
“Right now, both Visakhapatnam and Kakinada are facing water scarcity. It will be aggravated once the PCPIR takes shape. The perils of the PCPIR are largely unknown to the public. It is estimated that 1.5 lakh acres is needed for the project. The Government has acquired 70,000 acres or so and the rest would be grabbed from the poorer sections,” he alleged.
A meeting of stakeholders relating to the PCPIR would be held here on Saturday by the Government officials when all affected sections should vociferously oppose the project, he said.
Mr V.S. Krishna, the convener of the Human Rights Forum, said the State Government was going ahead with the project in an undemocratic manner, brushing aside the objections raised by the activists and the public. Large sections of the public — mostly vulnerable sections such as Dalits, farm labourers, fishermen and marginal farmers — would be adversely affected by the project. “The gains are illusory. Only some corporates will benefit from it. The PCPIR will cause a huge upheaval along the coast,” he said.
Mr T. Shankar, who was representing the fishermen, alleged that the authorities were unmindful of the interests of fishermen and farmers.