The coalition government has finally resolved the long-standing Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) land dispute. The government has decided to return 2,180 acres of land given by the farmers to the farmers. To this end, the Special Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department has issued orders. Also decided that registration fees and stamp duties will not be collected for these registrations. This decision will benefit 1,551 farmers.
These lands are under the jurisdiction of Uppada Kothapalli and Thondangi mandals. Till now, although the farmers have lands, their ownership rights are in the name of Kakinada SEZ, and therefore, the farmers have not received government schemes. They have not received any schemes like loans, subsidies, insurance, or compensation.
Although the farmers are cultivating the lands, as they are not the owners according to the documents, even the banks have not cooperated with them. Financial difficulties have worsened. The previous YSRCP government had issued orders on March 4, 2021, with G.O. MS No. 12, to return the lands to the Kakinada SEZ farmers. However, the orders were not implemented.
They were delayed in the name of Kannababu Committee reports, amendments to the law, and technical issues. Although registrations started in 2022, the process was stalled due to the lack of stamp duty exemption option in the software. Only 986 acres were registered, while the remaining 1,194 acres were stalled.
Farmers have been fighting for their rights by trampling the government’s doorsteps since then. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan met the Kakinada SEZ farmers during the elections and assured them, “Your lands will be registered in your names again.”
After the formation of the coalition government, the affected farmers under the Pithapuram constituency met Pawan Kalyan on November 4 last year. Pawan assured that the problem would be resolved.
Currently, as per the orders of the Revenue Department, the registration of SEZ lands will be done again in the names of the farmers. Stamp duty has been completely exempted. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan thanked Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad.