AP announces additional package for Dibbapalem

Visakhapatnam, Sept 6: Andhra Pradesh Commercial Taxes Minister K Ramakrishna had said that the state government has announced an additional package for villagers of Dibbapalem, who would have to vacate the place to facilitate construction of a private port in Gangavaram village here.

Speaking to newspersons here last night, he said the villagers had agreed to the package after holding talks with District Collector Anil Kumar Singhal. A committee of villagers and the state government had reached agreements in August last year, and under the fresh agreement reached between the two, more than 300 families had been added to the initial number of 1,270 families identified for rehabilitation. The package would be implemented for all families, he added.

The 473 families which did not belong to the fishermen community living in the village would be given a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 for six months and 550 fishermen families identified would receive a one-time payment of Rs 25,000 each, he said.

He claimed that the village committee had agreed to receive house site pattas in a week and completely vacate the village in four months. It gave an assurance that no law and order problem would be created while work on the port was started.

The fisherwomen of Dibbapalem village who were doing odd jobs like selling fish, would be granted Rs 25 lakh. The fisherwomen and the village committee would work out the method to distribute the money.

Earlier, he announced Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy was keen on establishing an institution of it stand in the city. The institute would be set up with assistance of the Visakhapatnam steel plant.

The state government sanctioned proposals for constructing state-of-art schools in 100 acres of land in the district, he added.

UNI