The Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) has remained a non-starter from the beginning. Farmers are agitating to get their land parcels back or higher compensation in lieu.

Recently, the authorities announced additional compensation but not many farmers are coming forward to accept it.

A non-starter

The land acquisition for KSEZ began way back in 2005 when the YS Rajasekhara Reddy government was in power. A total of 10,500 acres was acquired but the project got mired in a plethora of problems from the start.

The ONGC proposed to set up a refinery, which was the anchor project, but subsequently gave up the idea as unviable. The GMR group then entered the picture and the State government signed a fresh MoU with the group for the refinery but it has not taken off.

The farmers were initially paid ₹3 lakh an acre in 2005, but as the project got bogged down, the demand for return of lands gained momentum. An anti-KSEZ committee was formed and the struggle has been going on sporadically.

Naidu’s promise

When he was in the Opposition, TDP President N Chandra Babu Naidu supported the agitation and he even symbolically ploughed the lands at a village in the area, promising the farmers that he would restore their lands when he came to power.

He became Chief Minister more than a year ago, and since then pressure has been mounting on him to act in the matter. Bowing to the pressure, recently an additional compensation of ₹2 lakh an acre was announced but the farmers are not willing to let go of their lands.

According to Ch Suryanarayana, the convener of the Anti-KSEZ Committee, only 100 or so farmers have come forward to take the additional compensation.

“We do not want the extra compensation. We want our lands back, we want the CM to honour his promise,” he said.