Bowing to pressure from locals, the State government has decided to minimise the land acquisition for the Bhavanapadu port in Santabommali mandal, Srikakulam district. The government has initially planned to acquire 4,763 acres, but it reportedly accepted the revised proposal of the district administration which said around 2,500 acres land is sufficient for the sea port. Recently, senior officials of the port and revenue departments visited the project site and informed the government that there would no agitation if displacement of people is confined to a few people. It is also observed that the compensation amount will also come down if less land is acquired. Srikakulam Collector P. Lakshmi Narasimham and Srikakulam Joint Collector Vivek Yadav have asked the revenue officials to identify the government lands so that there is no need to trouble locals.
The government has strongly argues that construction of the sea port would change the fortunes of entire Srikakulam district which can witness unprecedented and rapid progress within no time. However, the locals are not convinced with the government’s argument saying that fishing activity will be disturbed permanently and force fishermen community to migrate to other places.
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Locals of Bhavanapadu, Pedamarripadu, Chinamarripadu, Devunaltada, Suryamanipuram, Pollada, Kottapeta and Telagapeta joined hands together to form Bhavanapadu Vyatireka Porata Committee to oppose the land acquisition saying that the sea port would ruin their livelihood and make them homeless. Committee president B. Mohana Reddy, Devunaltada sarpanch S. Chiranjeevulu has said the people will retaliate if the government was keen on taking up acquisition process forcibly without understanding the people’s grievances. In spite of many hurdles and opposition from locals, the government is hopeful that it would construct the port for the long-term benefits of Srikakulam people although it would cause trouble to a few families with the land acquisition.