THONDANGI: While fishermen and farmers expressed concern over their livelihood, managements of shrimp hatcheries were apprehensive about the adverse impact of environmental pollution on their units due to the proposed all-weather, deepwater, multipurpose seaport in Kona revenue village of Thondangi mandal, during the environmental public hearing conducted at the project site here on Friday. The Kakinada SEZ Limited of the GMR group proposed to build the port in an extent of 1,879.51 acres with an expected outlay of Rs.2,041.92 crore. Geographically, it spreads over 11 hamlets and two major panchayats located 35 km from Kakinada and comprises a population of 2.96 lakh. Most of them ekes out a livelihood from fishing, agriculture, and horticulture.
Sarpanches and MPTC members, and employees of the GMR group, besides beneficiaries of its NGO wing, welcomed the port proposal saying that it would help develop the region by generating employment. On the other hand, fisherfolks and farmers, while being apprehensive about their livelihood, complained that the relief package announced by the promoters was insufficient. The hearing was held amidst multi-level security put in place by the police, para-military forces, and private security personnel hired by the promoters. Prohibitory orders were in force in the villages and hamlets to be affected for the last couple of weeks and preventive arrests of leaders of opposition parties were made at Kakinada to ensure smooth conduct of the procedure. En route the venue, the police conducted vehicle checks and physical frisking of individuals at three levels and prevented the activists of the the Human Rights Forum and other rights groups from entering the venue. Even at the hearing, most of the general public complained that only those who aired positive views were allowed to speak.
They raised slogans against the proposed port many a times, prompting the police to intervene and regulate the crowds. People such as Ambujalapu Lovaraju of Lakshmudupeta, A. Srinu and Srinivas of Butchiahpeta managed to get a chance to oppose the project citing livelihood concerns and environmental hazards. President of the All India Hatcheries Association’s Kakinada chapter Ganni Venkateswara Rao said the existence of 200 hatcheries that hired one lakh people and with a registered annual turnover of Rs.1,500 crore would be in question if the port was allowed to be established. Of the 44 participants, 40 welcomed the port proposal. The general public, however, branded them as “paid artistes.” Collector H. Arun Kumar, who chaired the proceedings, said that a detailed report, along with the video footage of the hearing, would be sent to the Ministry of Environment and Forests for its consideration. APPCB Environmental Engineer D. Ravindra Babu and Revenue Divisional Officer Visweswara Rao were present.
