Kovvada Agraharam villagers oppose pharma project

Pusapatirega (Vizianagaram): Tension prevailed at Kovvada Agraharam when locals entered lands which were allotted to SVL Life Sciences, a pharma company belonging to Bhogapuram TDP MLA P Narayanaswamy Naidu.

The Andhra Pradesh government has allotted 17.64 acres of land in the village to the pharma company at lesser price. But the locals representing 44 families have been alleging that the lands were allotted to them and they have been enjoying the lands for the past 50 years and now the government is grabbing the lands from them for giving to MLA.

The locals have approached the court and got stay order against the allotment of lands to the MLA’s family. Later the locals tried to enter the lands. But MLA and his family members laid a fence around the site.

However, on Sunday the locals tried to encroach the lands, but police have foiled their attempts. Additional police were deployed to prevent untoward incidents. Revenue divisional officer J V Murali and DSP A V Ramana reached the spot and invited the farmers to his office to finalise compensation.