Returning Kakinada SEZ land to farmers a historic step: AP Agri minister

Kakinada : Minister for Agriculture Kursala Kannababu said returning of Kakinada SEZ (Special Economic Zone) land to farmers is a historic decision taken by any government in the country.

Speaking to the media here on Friday, he said Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has fulfilled the promise to the farmers at a public meeting in Pithapuram during padayatra.

Recalling the chaos and uncertainty that took place in Nandigram of West Bengal where farmers protested against automobile SEZ, he said such a situation did not prevail in Andhra Pradesh as the Chief Minister respected the public sentiments and returned their lands.

The minister criticized Chandrababu Naidu for acquiring land without giving any prior notification to farmers. "Chandrababu had given only Rs 10 lakhs for 657 acres of land. He had illegally detained farmers for protesting," he said.

He said that the government has taken a decision to withdraw all SEZ cases against farmers. The minister said the government has decided to reserve 75 percent of jobs in SEZ industries to locals. He said Kakinada SEZ has a high production of aqua produce (shrimp) in the country.

"The waste will be treated here initially. It will be then moved to Visakhapatnam where it will be treated again and then dumped into the sea," he said.

Kannababu said that Chandrababu and Lokesh are reeling under frustration after suffering defeat in the Kuppam Panchayat elections. He challenged Lokesh to reveal the list of candidates and how they won 38.89 percent of the Panchayats.