AP industries minister warns of stringent action on stalled cement projects

Vijayawada: Industries Mmnister TG Bharath assured the assembly that stringent action would be taken against cement companies that failed to establish plants after acquiring land from poor farmers in Palnadu district. He said the govt would not allow private managements to sit on thousands of acres without fulfilling their commitments.Raising the issue on Friday, Gurazala MLA Yarapathineni Srinivasa Rao alleged that nearly 6,000 acres acquired by private cement firms remain idle. Farmers parted with their lands in the hope of industrial development and jobs, but several projects never materialised. "The farmers lost fertile land and cultivable rights, and turned into agricultural labourers in neighbouring fields. With plants not coming up even 20–25 years after acquisition, their children also lost an opportunity to get jobs," he said. He further alleged that some companies even sold the land acquired from farmers without having such a right. They purchased land at throwaway prices, secured hundreds of crores in bank loans, and later exited by selling the projects. "This is a big scandal which the government is simply watching," he fumed.He alleged that a few companies even sold the land acquired from the farmers without having such a right. He said they purchased land from the farmers at Responding to the charge, minister Bharath said it was a fact that large extents of land were allotted across Gurazala, Dachepalli, Machavaram and Piduguralla mandals for cement plants and related industries. "Among the major companies, Gujarat Ambuja Cements was allotted land in Gogulapadu village of Gurazala mandal and Nadikudi and Alugumallipadu villages of Dachepalli mandal through APIIC. Sanghi Cements secured land in Daida village of Gurazala mandal and was also granted a mining lease over 931.65 acres of govt land in Gottimukkala village."Other firms that were allotted land include Bhavya Cements, India Cements, Ultratech Cement, Chettinad Cements Ltd (Chennai), Andhra Cements, Sagar Cements, Sree Cements, My Home Cements, Raj Pushpa Cements, Imami Cements in association with GVP Infra, and Saraswati Power & Industries Limited. The land was spread across villages such as Pulipadu, Madinapadu, Tangeda, Pedagarlapadu, Kesanupalli, Thummalacheruvu, Pondugala, Gamalapadu, Chennayapalem, Vemavaram and Pinnelli," said Bharath.