Botsa seeks urgent probe into ‘mismanagement of Kakinada SEZ’There are allegations of land misuse, ecological violations, and financial misconduct

Botsa, the Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council, penned a letter to Piyush Goyal, the Minister of Commerce and Industry on Friday, calling for an urgent inquiry into the allegations of mismanagement and misuse of land in the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The letter highlights serious concerns regarding the land acquisition process, ecological violations, and alleged financial misconduct surrounding the project.
The Kakinada SEZ, part of the Government of India’s initiative to develop economic zones, was established in the early 2000s to encourage private investment. The Andhra Pradesh government acquired approximately 10,000 acres of land from local farmers to facilitate its development. However, significant changes in the promoters involved and the opaque land acquisition process have raised red flags.
“The land was acquired from farmers at a much lower price, and later, a large portion of it was sold to new promoters, raising questions about the integrity of the transactions,” Botsa stated. “This situation is reminiscent of the agitations in Singur and Nandigram, where public outcry led to land being returned to farmers.”
In response to growing unrest, the Andhra Pradesh government, under Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, decided to return 2,180 acres to the farmers. However, recent events have reignited the controversy. On December 6, Yanamala Rama Krishnudu, a former Finance Minister and current member of the Legislative Council from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), sent a letter to the Chief Minister accusing the project’s original promoter, KV Rao, of defrauding significant amounts by selling the acquired land to new promoters. Krishnudu’s letter also highlighted serious deviations and violations of ecological norms, claiming that the SEZ was developed without proper compliance with environmental regulations.  
Botsa emphasised the need for a thorough investigation in his communication to Piyush Goyal, stressing the importance of transparency in such large-scale projects. “As a member of the public from the coastal area of Andhra Pradesh and in my capacity as Leader of Opposition, it is my responsibility to bring these issues to light and seek scrutiny from the Government of India, which oversees SEZs across the country,” he said.
Satyanarayana urged the Minister of Commerce and Industry to instruct the relevant agencies to investigate the allegations and take immediate action. “This matter requires urgent attention to ensure accountability and protect the rights of farmers and the environment,” he said.
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