AP to pool 1.05 lakh acres land for Machilipatnam port project

Having created a record of sorts by pooling 33,000 acres of land from farmers for the new capital, Amaravati, the Andhra Pradesh government is now aiming to set another record by pooling 1.05 lakh acres of land for Machilipatnam Port and Industrial Corridor (MPIC).
The state cabinet, which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, approved the land pooling for the project in Krishna district.
"Those who part with land for the MPIC project will be given 1000 sq yds of residential plot and 250 sq yds of commercial plot per every acre as compensation," Information and Public Relations Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy said.

The owners would not get any other benefits, unlike in Amaravati where owners were also offered annuity for 10 years.
"Lands in Amaravati region are fertile where three crops are grown yearly. It's not so in Machilipatnam," Reddy said.
The cabinet approved creation of Machilipatnam Area Development Authority for undertaking the MPIC project which would be spread over 426 sq km, covering 29 villages.

"The villages will not be disturbed, so there will no dislocation of people," the minister said, adding that July 7, 2017, would be the deadline for completion of land pooling.
Krishna district administration had issued a notification for acquiring 30,000 acres of land for the Machilipatnam Port earlier. But the farmers are opposing the acquisition.

When asked about the fate of this notification, the minister could not give any reply. He also could not explain why one lakh acres of land was required for MPIC, nor did he give timeline for the project or the quantum of investment expected to come in.
"The project is good for the region" was all he said.