GMR Kakinada Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure Limited, owns 51 percent stake in Kakinada SEZ Ltd, which is developing a multi-product SEZ, spanning over 10,000 acres, near Kakinada. GMR also has a licence to build a multipurpose all-weather, deep-draft port as part of the SEZ, at an investment of Rs 2,123 crore.
The land for the SEZ was acquired in 2005 among widespread protests by farmers. The land was acquired by the state government, through Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), and handed over to GMR. The farmers received a compensation of Rs 3 lakh per acre back then, which they were not happy with.
In 2015, the Struggle Committee (a grassroots organisation by farmers created to oppose the project) alleged that while the farmers were paid compensation at the rate of just Rs 3 lakh per acre, the management had borrowed Rs 20 lakh from the bank by pledging each acre of the land acquired from the farmers and had even put the lands for sale at the rate of Rs 70 lakh per acre.
As a response, the state government increased the compensation in August 2015. In October 2018, since the promised development had not taken place even after five years, the farmers were agitated and demanded that their land be returned to them. They started tilling and transplantation on the fields and even filed petitions for the return of land. Further, with the proposal of APIIC to divest its stake in the SEZ to focus on its core airport and energy businesses, it is evident that no further investment will be pumped into the SEZ by the APIIC till the completion of divestment. As a result, the farmers' lands remain acquired without any employment guarantee for them.
In February 2021, the State Cabinet resolved to return the 2,180 acres of land notified for acquisition for the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) to farmers. It further stated that residents of six villages -- Srirampuram, Bandipeta, Mummidivaripodu, Pativaripalem, Ravivaripodu and Ramaraghavapuram -- would not be vacated as proposed by the previous governments. Further, all the burial grounds taken away from these villages would be returned. Moreover, the restrictions imposed on land transactions in these villages under 22A of the Registration Act will be lifted.
The Cabinet also decided to provide Rs 5 lakh more per acre to 657 acres of land notified for the SEZ in addition to the already announced compensation by the government and GMR company, so that the farmers will not be hit.
In 2021, GMR Infrastructure Limited received first tranche towards the sale of its entire 51 percent stake owned by its subsidiary GMR SEZ and Port Holdings Limited in Kakinada SEZ Limited. The company said that 74 percent equity stake of Kakinada Gateway Port that’s held by Kakinada SEZ has also been transferred to Aurobindo Realty and Infrastructure.
In April 2022, Kakinada District Collector Krithika Shukla directed the Aurobindo group to complete the return of 1,443 acres to individual farmers in the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) on the Kakinada coast. She also told them to speed up the ‘land to land’ exercise wherein more than 700 acres needed to be given to farmers elsewhere, in lieu of the land acquired from them for the KSEZ.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for compensation
Demand to get back acquired land
Refusal to give up land for the project
Demand for employment
Demand for more compensation than promised
Demand for rehabilitation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Private
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project stalled
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Yes
Source/Reference
<https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2021/feb/24/farmers-to-get-back-2000acres-notified-for-kakinada-sez-2268171.html>
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
40000
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
2007
Has the Conflict Ended?
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Acquisition Laws, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Central/State Government Policy
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Supreme Court
Case Number
Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s).1044/2016
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Special Economic Zone, Kakinada Special Economic Zone Struggle Committee, CBI, Government of Andhra Pradesh
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), GMR Kakinada SEZ Limited
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Struggle Committee Against the KSEZ, KSEZ Vyatireka Porata Committee
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
