Dissatisfied with the State government clearing the decks for a non-major port at Ramayapatnam, the Prakasam District Development Forum (PDDF) on Monday decided to intensify the agitation for location of the second major public sector port sanctioned to the State at this coastal village.
Announcing this at a media conference here, PDDF president Ch. Ranga Rao said leaders cutting across party lines would take part in an awareness meet to be held at the ABM College Grounds here on September 19.
Huge investment
“The cash-strapped State is not in a position to bring in huge investment for the originally envisaged public sector port and a ship building industry, which are expected to spur growth in the backward Prakasam district,” he felt.
BJP Rajya Sabha member G.V.L.Narasimha Rao would speak on the efforts being made by the Centre to get the State government’s nod for a public sector port at Ramayapatnam in the wake of experts finding Dugarajapatnam mentioned in the State Reorganisation Act ‘infeasible’, he said.
Left, YSRCP roped in
The PDDF also roped in the Left parties and the YSR Congress Party which had been making a common cause with the PDDF in exerting pressure on the State government to give its consent for setting up a central port at Ramayapatnam and speedily complete land acquisition for the same, said PDDF secretary Ch.Seshaiah.
Andhra Pradesh Students and Youth Joint Action Committee president Rayapatti Jagadeesh felt that unemployed youth would benefit only when a major port in the public sector was set up and the scheme of reservation was followed.
Students would be in the forefront of the stir for achieving the long-pending demand, he added.