The Hindu Business Line : SEZ model is dangerous: Medha Patkar

Kakinada, Dec 26 Local communities have an inalienable right to natural resources such as water and land, and that cannot be taken away by the State in the name of development, industrialisation or special economic zones, according to Ms Medha Patkar, convener of the National Alliance for People’s Movements.

At a press meet here before visiting the villages affected by the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) in U. Kothapalli and Thondangi mandals on Friday, she said the action of the State Government in sending the police to the villages earlier this week to erect fencing was reprehensible and the farmers showed exceptional courage in resisting the move. She extended full support to the agitation and felt that the farmers should get back their lands.

Condemning SEZs as ‘special exploitative zones’, she opined that it was unconstitutional and undemocratic to dispossess local communities and give the natural resources to corporates. “The coastal belt should not become a grazing ground for corporates. This model of development is dangerous, destructive and it will cause large-scale displacement and wreak ecological havoc. It should be fought tooth and nail,” she said.

She said any development activity should be taken up with the consent and participation of local communities. The Andhra Pradesh Government should give up the coastal corridor, SEZs and the petrochemical region proposal between Vizag and Kakinada, she added.

More Stories on : Infrastructure | Andhra Pradesh

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page