Kakinada, Oct 27th: People in the district allege that government is planning to take their lands for its proposed project, the Petroleum, Chemical and the Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) between Visakhapatnam and Kakinada in coastal Andhra. Rights activists and environmentalist are also expressing their dissatisfaction with the project, alleging that it would be rob nearly 2.75 lakh people of their livelihood and homes. Fisher folk, agricultural laborers and rural artisans will be the worst-hit in many aspects. Official concerned deny these allegations and say that not a single work began of this of the five year project; a master plan of the project will be prepared in November. People have been opposing the project since it was approved by the UPA government before the general elections of 2009.

Former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, fearing a political backlash in the elections, controlled the agitations for sometime. Later, after the elections, the UPA government came to power again and resumed works, including establishment of the office of the PCPIR Special Development Authority, (PCPIR-SDA) on the premises of the Visakhapatnam in September. The state government is all set to create infrastructure in the region spread over 603.58 square km in 110 revenue villages falling in 10 mandals of East Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts. The government says that the Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region will generate direct and indirect employment for nearly 101 lakh people and has invited petroleum and chemical-based industries.

After the setting up of the special office of the project and issuing notices to people, the agitation resumed. Hundreds of activists under the agies of the Struggle Committee against the Coastal Corridor and Kakinada-Special Economic Zone staged a dharna in front of the Collectorate here on Monday. The vice-chairman of PCPIR-SDA, Mr. V.N. Vishnu denied these allegations and said that works of the project had not started yet.