More than 5,000 people from three villages in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district will start a hunger strike on Friday against an aqua food park. The villagers claimed that the park will destroy a fragile eco-system and ruin water bodies.
The state government has nominated the owner of Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park and Ananda Group Companies’ chairman, UKV Raju, for a project on Vision-2020 from fisheries. The government wants to promote mega food parks to entice investments and creäte employment.
But the villagers said that they don’t require industries amid their fields, where they grow crops. The food park will acquire over 100 acres in Tunduru, Jonnalagaruv and Kamsalibethapudi.
“It is very fertile land. Any industry coming up here will draw excessive ground water, cause pollution and release waste which will spoil the groundwater table and lakes and ponds here,’’ said Y Arun Kumar, a farmer as per a report in The Indian Express. “We do not want this food park. We do not want the jobs they may offer,” he added. For some farmers, pollution was the main concern.
Ruling TDP MLA Bandaru Madhava Naidu supported the villagers at first, but changed his tune after CM N Chandrababu Naidu said that the food park would bring job opportunities and would not cause pollution.
“Some local leaders of instigating the villagers. We will follow all environmental laws and norms strictly. If the villagers are willing to sit and talk to clarify any doubts they have, we are willing to do so,” Ananda chairman Raju said.
