Govt hikes compensation for ryots displaced by APSEZ

The state government has offered to raise the compensation from the existing Rs 2.75 lakh to Rs 2.95 lakh per acre for the farmers whose lands are to be used for the proposed Andhra Pradesh Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) near Visakhapatnam.

Disclosing the details of the discussions held with the Land Losers' Action Committee representatives here on Thursday night, major industries minister B Satyanarayana told Business Standard that apart from effecting a hike of Rs 20,000 in the per acre price, the government also agreed to ensure employment and rehabilitation for the farmers displaced by the zone.

The government has proposed to acquire around 6,000 acres for developing the APSEZ project in Parawada constituency near the port city.

Of the total extent of land, four thousand acres are to be acquired from the farmers. The farmers have for long been agitating over 'the low price' offered by the government.

Though the minister himself called for a meeting with the representatives of the Land Losers' Committee to settle the issue, his offer apparently could not satisfy them.

Tulasi Das, general secretary of Andhra Pradesh Rytu Sangham, said that the government's offer price was no where near the farmers' expectations. The farmers are demanding Rs 4 lakh per acre as compensation.