The Hindu Business Line : SEZ projects destructive: Medha Patkar

Kakinada, Oct. 3 Special economic zones are “destructive projects” and they should be opposed tooth and nail by the affected people and the others should lend support to the struggle, said Ms Medha Patkar, social activist and leader of Narmada Bachao movement.

She was addressing people affected by the proposed Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) at Sriramapuram village of U. Kothapalli mandal near here on Wednesday evening.

She said there had never been any complete relief and rehabilitation (R&R) package for the benefit of people affected by the SEZs or for that matter any so-called development project.

“The Andhra Pradesh Government is not disclosing the facts about the KSEZ, its likely impact on the environment, the land use pattern and related issues. Though there is a Right to Information Act, people are kept in the dark,” she alleged.

‘Questionable deal’

She said that it was simply mentioned that the Central Board of Approvals had approved the KSEZ proposal and that 1,500 hectares of land had been set apart for the purpose. She said that only a portion of the land would be used for the industry and the rest would be for the private use of the industrial group.

“Once the SEZ is established, it becomes a foreign land. The laws of the land don’t apply there and the affected people and all others will be denied access,” she alleged.

Dr P. Chiranjivini Kumari, secretary of Spandana, presided over the meeting. Several local leaders belonging to the BJP, the BSP and Telugu Desam spoke against the SEZ. Representatives of several NGOs also spoke.

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