Press Releases Archive

Lok Satta Committee to go into Sompet thermal project issues

Lok Satta demands amendment of Land Acquisition Act and creation of Independent Authority

The Lok Satta Party today expressed deep shock and consternation at the tragic loss of life and bloodshed at Sompet. The Party expressed deep condolences to the families of the dead and the injured in the agitation against the location of a thermal power project near Sompet in Srikakulam district.

In a statement, Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan announced the constitution of a committee headed by Mr. Bhisetty Babji, the party’s State Vice-President and Vizianagaram district unit President, and comprising experts and retired officials to go into the issue. The Committee comprises Mr. Kothakota Polinaidu, Prof. D.Vishnumurthy, Mr. Kona Mohana Rao (Advocate), Mr. Tammineni Annamnaidu (Advocate), Mr. Punnana Koteswara Rao (Retd. Dy. Collector).

Dr. JP regretted that the Government had allowed the situation to come to a boil, instead of preempting it. Any development project will necessarily give rise to conflicts of interests. A responsible and responsive Government should reconcile and harmonize conflicting interests. The Administration was clearly lost all credibility and resort to force has become a habit in sensitive issues.

There should be a credible, fair and independent mechanism to determine the location of projects and the extent of lands required for industrial and infrastructure projects. This independent authority should also have the power to determine compensation and rehabilitation.

Least extent of land with least dislocation of people’s lives should be the norm. Land losers should be compensated with money, a share of the developed land, and guaranteed jobs in the projects. Only when people have real stakes they will come forward to support industrialization. For this the Land Acquisition Act should be amended, and an independent quasi-judicial authority should be created to ensure fairness and stakes to all sections.

There are festering problems elsewhere also about location of projects. For instance, the farmers of Naguluppala Padu Mandal in Prakasam district are agitated as irrigated lands giving two crops are being acquired for Genco power projects. All such problems should be promptly addressed by an independent credible authority for determining location, extent of land, compensation and rehabilitation.

He appealed to the Government to invite the local people for a discussion at least now and arrive at a satisfactory solution.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 20:01

Vested interests hemorrhaging Government: Dr. JP

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today expressed his shock and anguish over the financially crippled State Government devising ingenious ways to forgo revenue or squander meager resources if either option would help fatten chosen people.

Talking to the media on the Assembly premises, Dr. JP recalled how the Andhra Pradesh Government allowed a huge chunk of Central funds for the Sarva Sikhsha Abhiyan to lapse by failing to contribute its share of Rs.400 crore in the last financial year.

However, the Government had no compunction in making available 55000 hectares of mineral-rich land in Scheduled Areas for exploitation by vested interests. As per the State Government scheme, the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation will undertake mining and shall sell minerals charging a margin of not more than16 percent. On the one hand, the Government gives mining leases to private parties and gives them absolute freedom on pricing without seeking a share in profits other than a token royalty. On the other hand, it shackles the APMDC by stipulating its margin so that the buyers in whom it is interested can reap riches.

Dr. JP also instanced how the Government had spent Rs.1000 crore on a project without a sod of earth being turned up or an acre of land being irrigated. The pretext is preparation of designs etc for a project that will cost Rs.38500 crore as of today, and requires 3750 MW of power for its operation, translating into capital cost of nearly Rs.3 lakh and a recurring operational and maintenance cost of Rs.40000 an acre.

Dr. JP said that with the Rs.1000 crore already spent on the unviable project, the Government could have reimbursed the tuition fees of nearly half a million students or enabled a million youth to gain employment and livelihood skills.

Dr. JP wryly commented, “The Government has not gone bankrupt; vested interests are bankrupting it. No wonder, the Government starves essential schemes of funds even as it gladly and generously rewards people close to power centers.”

Monday, July 12, 2010 - 18:34

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