Resistance rising against proposed industrial units at Beela

Srikakulam: No doubt industrial growth is essential for development of backward district like Srikakulam to arrest migrations by providing employment opportunities. But environmentalists are opposing indiscriminate industrial growth at the cost of environment and ecological balance which threaten the lives of the people and other living things as well.

Highlights:

• Beela wet lands are spread in an extent of 10,000 acres in Sompeta mandal which is situated between Mahendratanaya and Bahuda rivers which merge into the Bay of Bengal.
• People of Sompeta mandal are again rising their voice against proposed industrial units at Beela lands
• Demand setting up of eco-friendly units

They are suggesting eco-friendly units in the wake of government’s decision to set up industrial units at Beela swamp lands in Sompeta mandal after cancelling the proposed thermal power plant (TPP) here.

People of Sompeta mandal are again rising their voice against proposed industrial units at Beela lands (wet lands and swamps) and they are demanding setting up of eco-friendly units. Beela wet lands are spread in an extent of 10,000 acres in Sompeta mandal which is situated between Mahendratanaya and Bahuda rivers which merge into the Bay of Bengal.

The erstwhile Congress government proposed thermal power plant (TPP) at Beela and handed over 972 acres to a private company, Nagarjuna constructions company (NCC) in 2009. But local people have been opposing it and protested strongly on 14 July 2010. The agitations turned violent and three innocent people were killed in police firing. Fearing about the electoral prospects, the then CM, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy cancelled the proposed TPP on 18 February 2014.

Subsequently TDP government proposed agriculture based industries here. Once again people of all affected villages rose in protest under the aegis of Paryavarana Parirakshana Sangham (PPS) against it. Recently Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) at Coimbatore submitted a report to central government on Beela wet lands. The SACON scientists’ team studied and submitted preliminary suggestions to government twice in 2012 and in 2016. They submitted a report this year recently by explaining its peculiar quality and importance in protection of ecological balance.

According to SACON report, 493 medicinal plants, 149 types of birds, 46 varieties of butterflies, 24 kinds of honey bees, wild pigs and rare reptile species are surviving at Beela. These lands are essential to protect groundwater level and to prevent intrusion of saline water into plain lands from the sea.

SACON suggested alternatives like boating, cottages, catering, bird watching towers, angling and flower cultivation as it is rich source for lotus. ‘As per SACON report, Beela wet lands cannot be disturbed in any manner. As opposition leader, N. Chandrababu Naidu had assured to protect these lands. But after assuming charge as CM he is not concentrating on it and has issued GO MS NO-329 for agro-based units.

This GO must be cancelled and the government should recover lands from NCC company’ PPS president, Dr Yaradi Krishna Murthy told The Hans India. ‘The government needs to respect SACON report on Beela wet lands in the interest of people and environment’ senior scientist, K. Babu Rao explained to this newspaper.

In the wake of SACON’s recent report, the PPS members submitted memorandums to chief secretary to government of AP, Srikakulam district collector, Tekkali revenue divisional officer (RDO), pollution control board (PCB) officials by demanding the setting up of eco-friendly units at Beela area by quoting SACON report.