All party meet opposes forced land acquisition for Navy depot

Leaders of various political parties and people’s organisations have made it clear that they are not opposed to the proposed Navy Ordnance Depot, but will resist any attempt at forced land acquisition. They extended solidarity to residents of villages likely to be affected by the project.

A roundtable meeting was held here on Sunday to deliberate on the proposal to acquire land between Bodigudem and Mangapatidevipeta villages in Koyyalagudem mandal in Eluru district.

Presiding over the meeting, CPI(M) Eluru district secretary A. Ravi said the government had initially proposed the depot near Vankavarigudem in Jeelugumilli mandal, but shifted the location following stiff opposition from local residents. He alleged that despite reported assurances from Navy officials that construction would not proceed without public consent, the State government was pressing ahead with the acquisition process.

Former Kaikaluru MLA and YSRCP district president Doolam Nageswara Rao said his party was not against the project per se, but firmly opposed compulsory acquisition of fertile agricultural land. He suggested that the authorities explore the possibility of utilising vacant government land or barren tracts instead.

Leaders of the CPI and CPI(ML) New Democracy said that under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, consent of the Gram Sabha is mandatory. They cautioned that acquisition of two-crop fertile land would severely affect the livelihoods of farmers and reiterated their support to the ongoing agitation by farmers and villagers against forced acquisition.