The Hindu Business Line : ‘Coastal corridor will affect food security’

Visakhapatnam, May 20 The proposal to build a coastal industrial corridor in Andhra Pradesh will adversely affect the food security of the State and also the fisheries production and, therefore, the State Government should shelve it, according to Mr K.S Chalam, Convener of the Struggle Committee against the Coastal Corridor.

At a press meet here on Tuesday, he said the nine coastal districts from Srikakulam to Nellore accounted for the bulk of the paddy produced in the State (67 lakh tonnes of the total of 96 lakh tonnes according to 2005-06 estimates) and, therefore, it would be ruinous to set up special economic zones in the coastal belt and to build the corridor.

A large number of fishermen, farmers and the weaker sections would be dispossessed and displaced and their livelihood would be affected, he said.

Crops will be hit

Mr Chalam said that several other crops in the agriculturally rich coastal districts would be affected and the coastal waters would be polluted and the fisheries ruined. Similarly the proposal to take up bauxite mining in the Visakhapatnam district would pollute the hill streams and rivulets and not only the livelihood of the Girijans, but also the interests of the farmers in the plains, would be hit.

He appealed to the State Government to take note of the facts and give up the proposals detrimental to the interests of large sections of people.

Industrial development, with proper precautions, could be taken up in other pockets, he suggested.

More Stories on : Infrastructure | Andhra Pradesh

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Spiralling coal prices may push up cement cost further

No justification in ban on futures trading: Assocham

‘Coastal corridor will affect food security’

PM’s intervention sought on cotton, yarn price rise

Maruti hikes prices

‘SBI’s move will hit farm sector’

Centre offers to set up nuclear plant in Meghalaya in lieu of uranium

‘Nutraceuticals market growing at 40% on greater health awareness’