At least 65 families in three villages of Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada district have sought fair compensation and rehabilitation as the Kakinada Special Economic Zone plans to take over their settlements, according to a report by Deccan Chronicle. The families from Ramaraghavapuram, Buchireddypalem and Karrivaripalem in U Kothapalli mandal submitted a representation to Deputy Chief Minister and Pithapuram MLA K Pawan Kalyan.
The residents’ demand centres on compensation, housing and rehabilitation before any relocation. Families in the affected villages have said that earlier relocation efforts did not provide houses for everyone, leaving some residents in their original settlements while others moved to a new village constructed at Kotha Mulapeta.
The KSEZ project was established in 2005, and a family survey was conducted in 2006, Jana Sena leader Muralasetti Nooka Raju was quoted as saying. Relocation to Kotha Mulapeta began in 2009, but houses were reportedly constructed for only about half the population. Families that wanted to move but did not receive housing remained in the original villages.
The current dispute is particularly focused on Ramaraghavapuram, where residents want compensation for 48 families. Former village sarpanch Ravi Ramesh said the KSEZ had agreed to take over the village but should compensate the affected farmers. The residents have requested four cents of land and Rs 30 lakh per family to construct a house for 50 families.
According to Ramesh, KSEZ authorities have said that the proposed benefits can be provided to only 18 families based on an earlier survey. He has demanded that compensation and other rehabilitation and resettlement benefits be extended to all people who had crossed 18 years of age by the time the village is vacated.
The compensation dispute follows an earlier land-related settlement. During the previous YSRC government, more than 2,000 acres of farmers’ land was reportedly returned and the issue was resolved. A government order concerning Ramaraghavapuram stated that the KSEZ could acquire the village only after providing compensation to the families living there. Otherwise, the settlement was to remain with the villagers.
Residents said no final decision was taken by the KSEZ or the government for about five years. The report also said that government services, including drinking-water supply, drainage works and employment under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, were subsequently stalled in the affected villages. Villagers said repeated representations to officials had not resolved the issue.
The relocation question also involves other settlements. P Veerreddy said residents of Srirampuram, Pativaripalem, Badipet, Mummidivarapodu and Ravivari Podu were earlier proposed for relocation to Ravivaripadu village under a government order issued in 2021. However, residents said they wanted to remain in Ramaraghavapuram. Panchayat officials reportedly told them that relocation to Ravivaripadu was necessary because the existing settlement was obstructing company operations.
Residents V Kumari and K Lavanya have appealed to the Deputy Chief Minister for fair compensation, saying families remain in difficult conditions because of the unresolved rehabilitation process. The immediate next step is a decision by the state government and KSEZ authorities on the compensation, housing and rehabilitation package before the proposed takeover of Ramaraghavapuram.