Telangana State Pollution Control Board today held public hearing to acquire land for setting up Hyderabad Pharma City at the outskirts of the capital, a senior official said.
Despite minor protests from some locals, the PCB successfully organised the Public Hearing at Kartal, Yacharam and Kandukur for the mega project, Jayesh Ranjan Principal Secretary Industries said.
"We need about 16,000 acres of land. The report of public hearing will be sent to the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change for Environmental Clearance. All those who part their land will get compensation as per the state land acquisition Act," the official told PTI.
Ranjan further said the Government is planning to set up the cluster in about 19,300 acres.
Police said public opinion regarding establishment of Hyderabad Pharma city was conducted with deployment of adequate police force.
"The entire process was conducted in democratic and peaceful manner and the leaders from the respective areas have expressed their opinion in a free and fair manner and their speeches were recorded / video graphed in the presence of committee members i.e. Collector, Environment Board Director etc," a senior Police Official attached to L B Nagar Zone said.
According to police people form as many as 12 villages participated in the public hearing organised by the PCB which explained the villagers the environmental impact of the upcoming project and also regarding its benefits.
Reacting on the protests by some people at the venue, the official added that "some miscreants" were taken into custody as they tried to disrupt the "democratic procedure" and were let off subsequently.
Sravan Dasoju, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson, claimed that his party leaders Kodanda Reddy and Anvesh Reddy were held by the police preventing them from participating in the public hearing.
The Pharma City is estimated to attract an investment of Rs 64,000 crore, state Industries Minister K T Rama Rao said yesterday.
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