The Andhra Pradesh Government today offered a rehabilitation package for the families of fishermen affected by the construction of 2,640 MW thermal power project by East Coast Energy Ltd at Kakarapalli village in Srikakulam district of the State.

The project was in news after a firing incident during the week on the agitators near the plant site where two people were killed. On the same day, the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests, had issued a notice to the company asking them to stall work and provide a detailed explanation about the project and its implementation.

The State Home Minister, Ms P. Sabitha Reddy, along with Cabinet colleagues, Mr K. Parathasarathy (Secondary Education), and Mr D. Nagender (Labour), while announcing the package rejected the demand for judicial enquiry into the firing incident and for higher ex-gratia to the affected families.

The Ministers said that eligible people in the affected villages where the power project is coming up would be trained in various skills and absorbed in the project. Assuring the Legislative Assembly, they said that a separate rehabilitation plan was on the anvil for fishermen. They also assured that the drain to evacuate waste generated from the plant would be widened to ensure there is no submersion of crop in the nearby areas.

Houses would be constructed under the Indira Awas Yojana for those who lost their houses, she said.

A meeting has been scheduled by the Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh, on Monday at New Delhi to review various Central clearances issued for the thermal plant.

Ms Reddy urged other political parties not to exploit the situation.

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