Andhra To Return 2,180 Acres Of SEZ Land To Farmers

23 Oct 2025 CW Team

The move fulfils a key election promise by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development), who personally intervened to resolve the long-pending dispute. The decision benefits 1,551 farmers from the coastal mandals of Thondangi and Uppada Kothapalli.

Following Pawan Kalyan’s discussions with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Revenue Department’s Principal Secretary was directed to register the lands in farmers’ names without any charge.

The lands, originally acquired for SEZ development, will now be restored to the farmers, allowing them access to benefits under schemes such as Rythu Bharosa, along with eligibility for bank loans and use of land for family and educational purposes—issues they faced earlier due to unregistered ownership.

Under the previous YSRCP government, though GO No. 12 was issued to facilitate the return, implementation was stalled at the field level, leaving farmers unable to secure ownership or government support. After receiving multiple petitions from affected farmers, Pawan Kalyan pledged to resolve the issue and has now delivered on that commitment.

The matter gained renewed attention when Government Whip Pidugu Hariprasad raised it in the Legislative Council, citing how the lack of registration prevented farmers from obtaining state aid and financial access.

The orders were issued on Tuesday, marking prompt action by the TDP-led NDA government. Expressing gratitude, Pawan Kalyan thanked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad for supporting the decision to bring long-awaited relief to SEZ farmers.

In a significant relief to farmers, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to return 2,180 acres of ‘award lands’ acquired for the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to their original owners, while waiving stamp duty and registration fees. The move fulfils a key election promise by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development), who personally intervened to resolve the long-pending dispute. The decision benefits 1,551 farmers from the coastal mandals of Thondangi and Uppada Kothapalli. Following Pawan Kalyan’s discussions with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Revenue Department’s Principal Secretary was directed to register the lands in farmers’ names without any charge. The lands, originally acquired for SEZ development, will now be restored to the farmers, allowing them access to benefits under schemes such as Rythu Bharosa, along with eligibility for bank loans and use of land for family and educational purposes—issues they faced earlier due to unregistered ownership. Under the previous YSRCP government, though GO No. 12 was issued to facilitate the return, implementation was stalled at the field level, leaving farmers unable to secure ownership or government support. After receiving multiple petitions from affected farmers, Pawan Kalyan pledged to resolve the issue and has now delivered on that commitment. The matter gained renewed attention when Government Whip Pidugu Hariprasad raised it in the Legislative Council, citing how the lack of registration prevented farmers from obtaining state aid and financial access. The orders were issued on Tuesday, marking prompt action by the TDP-led NDA government. Expressing gratitude, Pawan Kalyan thanked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad for supporting the decision to bring long-awaited relief to SEZ farmers.

Infrastructure Energy

22 Dec 2025

Coal Ministry Simplifies Disposal of Washery Rejects

The Ministry of Coal has recently simplified the process for disposal of coal washery rejects to enhance ease of doing business and ensure faster utilisation, while maintaining environmental safeguards. The move aligns with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and ongoing reform agenda in the coal sector. Under the existing policy issued on 27 May 2021, washery rejects were disposed of through a three-tier priority system. The first priority allows their use for energy extraction, in line with Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, applicable to waste with calorific value above 1,500 kca..

Infrastructure Urban

22 Dec 2025

India, Oman Sign CEPA to Boost Trade and Services Ties

India and Oman have recently signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), marking a major milestone in India’s strategic engagement with the Gulf region. The agreement was signed in the presence of Narendra Modi and Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, by Piyush Goyal and Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef. The CEPA provides unprecedented market access for Indian goods, with Oman offering zero-duty access on 98.08 per cent of its tariff lines, covering 99.38 per cent of India’s exports by value. Major labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, footwear, gems and jewellery, enginee..

Technology

22 Dec 2025

TTDF Backs 136 Telecom R&D Projects Worth Rs 5.42 Bn

The Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme has recently approved 136 projects worth Rs 5.42 billion to strengthen indigenous telecom innovation across India, the government informed Parliament. The scheme focuses on bridging the digital divide by enabling development and manufacturing of advanced telecom technologies for rural and remote areas. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said the TTDF Scheme, launched on 1 October 2022, supports IITs, NITs, MSMEs, start-ups and research institutions work..