YSRCP alleges irregularities in Juvvaladinne harbour privatisation move
The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has raised concerns about irregularities in the proposed privatization of the Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour in the Nellore district and is demanding that the State government abandon this plan.
During a press conference on Sunday, former MLA and YSRCP Visakhapatnam South coordinator Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar stated that land and infrastructure valued at hundreds of crores were being handed over to a private company with a net worth of less than ₹10 crore. He expressed that this decision raised serious concerns about transparency.
Mr. Ganesh Kumar accused the TDP-led coalition government of neglecting the welfare of fishermen and failing to fulfill promises made during the elections, including the inclusion of fishermen in the Scheduled Tribes list and providing pension benefits at the age of 50.
He highlighted that the previous YSRCP government, under former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, had initiated the construction of ten fishing harbors and six fish landing centers across Andhra Pradesh to enhance coastal livelihoods. Instead of protecting these assets, he alleged that the current government is attempting to privatize them.
Regarding the Juvvaladinne project, Mr. Ganesh Kumar mentioned that the harbor had been completed at a cost of nearly ₹300 crore on 79 acres before the last elections. It was designed to accommodate 1,250 mechanized boats and benefit around 20,000 fishing families through a subsidy scheme.
He claimed that since the coalition government took power, fishermen have been denied access to the harbor, and part of the land has been allocated to the Sagar Defence Academy. He suggested that if land was necessary for such a project, alternative sites near Krishnapatnam Port should have been considered.
Mr. Ganesh Kumar also questioned the decision to transfer assets worth approximately ₹200 crore to a private entity that is only investing ₹40 crore.
Former Veterinary University Board member Janakiram demanded that the promises made to fishermen be honored and that subsidies be increased in line with rising diesel prices. Several party leaders were present at the press conference.