Tribals intensify protest against hydro project in Parvathipuram Manyam, ASR
The project is coming up at Ganagula village and will affect over 30 villages in two mandals. At least 800 acres of land is required for the project, the villagers added.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 9 July 2022 12:54 PM GMT
ASR, Parvathipuram Manyam: The tribals of Chintapalle mandal and a few other parts of Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district have decided to intensify their agitation against the state government's proposed Yerravaram Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project saying the project will hit hard their way of life.
The project is coming up at Ganagula village and will affect over 30 villages in two mandals. At least 800 acres of land is required for the project, the villagers added.
In the past, a few thousand families were rehabilitated after the Machkund and Sileru hydroelectric projects came up, but over 20,000 families are yet to get their due. Tribals have become victims of the projects so the people in ASR district are opposing the proposed project, said Ch. Narasinga Rao of CPM.
The Left party leaders said the Yerravaram Pumped Storage Hydro Project is proposed to be constructed across small hill streams in the mountain ridges of the Darakonda reserve forest near Ganagula village and will flow into the Thandava reservoir. The project will generate 1,200 MW of power.
The AP Cabinet has approved the proposal to set up pumped hydro storage projects at four locations in the station with a total capacity to generate 3,700 MW of power. According to the proposal, a corporate company will set up a 1,000 MW plant each in YSR Kadapa and Parvathipuram Manyam districts, a 1,200 MW plant in Parvathipuram Manyam district, and another 500 MW in Saya Sai district.
However, activists in the Vizag region have strongly opposed the projects in Parvathipuram Manyam district saying the projects will go against the interest of the tribals.
"Projects in the scheduled areas can't be undertaken without a discussion with the Tribal Advisory Council and the consent of the tribals, but the government has been violating the rights and interests of the tribals. We will continue our fight till the government rolls back its decision," said K. Surendra, a tribal activist in ASR district.
