Demonstration in Hyderabad on 25th against AP Coastal Industrial Corridor Project

Dear Friends,

As many of you may be aware, the Government of AP came out with the GO 34, aimed at developing the coastal areas of AP right from Srikakulam to Nellore districts in an area covering 972 kms, into a Coastal Industrial Corridor. The Government sees this as its most Prestigious Project aimed at accelerating Industrial Growth and claims to "Develop" the region in the bargain. (See attachments for more details)

Opposing the Coastal Industrial Corridor, the Special Economic Zone Act, and the PCPIR Policy (Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Regions), the National Alliance for People's Movements (NAPM), is organizing a Dharna on 25th August, 2008, at Dharna Chowk, Indira Park , Hyderabad , from 10am to 2pm.

Speakers:
MEDHA PATKAR, National Convenor, NAPM and Narmada Bachao Andolan
K. BALAGOPAL, Human Rights Forum
Farmers, Fisher folk, Adivasis and Villagers against the Kakinada Special Economic Zone.

WHY WE ARE OPPOSING:

- Displacement of People: Nearly 2.5 crore people comprising fisher folk, small and marginal farmers, dalits farm labourers and adivasis will be displaced and their lives and livelihoods will be destroyed in the process. This has already happened in some parts like Tada SEZ, Krishnapatnam Port, and Paravada Pharma City etc.

- Special Economic Zone Act: The draconian Special Economic Zone Act is being used to force people out of their lands and homes, in various places of the Coastal Areas. For example, in the Kakinada SEZ, people refusing to give up fertile agricultural land of 12,500 acres are being beaten up, jailed under false cases, in order to coerce them into submission.

- Food Grains: Of the 96 lakh tons of Rice produced in the state, 67 lakh tons come from this region alone. The Coastal Corridor Project will completely erode this Food Basket of the state.

- SeaFood: Fish production valued at nearly Rs. 6,700 crores comes from the 9 coastal districts. In addition nearly 5, 82,000 tons of fish and prawns are produced in fish ponds along the coast. All this fish produce and economy of 80 lakh fisher folk is going to be destroyed completely.

- Ecological Impacts: Between January and July 2008 nearly 36 tons of fish died due to the chemicals released by the industries into the sea, in the north coastal districts. In addition endangered species like Olive Ridley Turtles have also died last year.

- Health: The industries to be set up are all highly polluting industries like Thermal Power Projects, Petro Chemicals and Bulk Drug Industries. The health impacts of such industries are already seen in areas like Patancheru and Bhopal . It is anybody's guess what can happen to the people's health in entire AP, if the Coastal Industrial Corridor comes up.

All those who are concerned about these issues, please join us at Indira Park , Hyderabad , on 25th August 2008 between 10am and 2pm. - NAPM


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