Declaring a war against the proposed Godavari Aqua Food Park, the people in the coastal areas of West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday staged protest demonstrations at many places.
The protest call given by a Struggle Committee and the CPIM forced the authorities to enforce prohibitory orders in 30 villages of Mogalturu, Narsapuram and Bhimavaram mandals on Wednesday. Tundurru village was the center of the action as police foiled the protest demonstration and took a large number of agitators including women in to custody.
The protesters were raising slogans against the planned private Mega Aqua Food Park. Those arrested include former MlA M Prasad Raju and the CPIM district secretary Balram.
As womenfolk had gathered in large numbers to participate in the protest, the administration had to bring reinforcements of women cops to take them into custody. There were scuffles between the police and the agitators as the local people resisted the police action.
With the deployment of 1,300 policemen the entire area had turned into fortress as barricades were erected on all the roads to prevent the protestors from converging at one place.
As police created an atmosphere of terror in the area, the residents were afraid to venture out of their homes as the entire area wore a deserted look.
The ire of the protestors was targeted at the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu as the police alleged that the Government was siding with the management of the proposed food park.
The proposed food park, being developed by Ananda Group has triggered a major controversy as the local farmers and the fishermen were apprehensive about its adverse environmental fall out.
Union Ministry for food processing has already granted its nod to the project but the local people were up in the arms saying it will pollute the Gontheru canal which was source of irrigation and fishing for the people.