Andhra Pradesh speeds up Kovvada nuclear power project

Even as people’s resistance against the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu continues to make news, the government of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh has decided to speed up the 9,564 MW Kovvada Nuclear Power Park (KNP) project in Ranasthalam block of the north coastal district of Srikakulam. The state issued an order on 27 December to acquire 1,000 hectares (ha) of land from farmers and fishers of the region, ignoring widespread public protests.

People boycott magisterial inquiry into Sompeta, Kakarapalli firing

Sticking to their demand for an independent judicial inquiry into the incidents of police firing at Sompeta and Kakarapalli in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district, people’s organisations here boycotted the magisterial inquiry held on December 14. Around 20 people, who were reportedly local Congress leaders, attended the inquiry held at revenue divisional office at Tekkali, 70 kms from Sompeta.

Public hearing for thermal power plant in Andhra Pradesh turns violent

The public hearing for the proposed thermal power plant at Ankulapaturu village of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh, held on October 3, turned violent.  In the melee, Vijayakumar, a practicing doctor and activist of Jana Vigyana Vedika, a people’s science organisation, was brutally beaten up by the police. An attempt to murder case has been registered against the circle inspector Ram Babu under section 307 of IPC.

The great wetland robbery in Kakarapalli

A village in Andhra Pradesh has become the epicentre of an eight-month-long fight against a power plant in neighbouring Kakarapalli. Following two deaths in police firing on February 28, people from 29 villages near the plant site thronged Vadditandra village in Srikakulam district to show support and mourn the deaths. “My brother gave his life to protect our livelihoods. None of us can give up the struggle now,” says Jeeru Murli, brother of Jeeru Nageshwar Rao of Vadditandra who was killed in the firing. “The plant will not happen on our land.”