Apparently realising that the ongoing agitation against Mega Aqua Food Park at Bhimavaram in West Godavari district is going to snowball into a major political issue that would cause tremendous loss to the ruling Telugu Desam Party, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday suddenly called an official meeting to discuss the issue and undo the probable damage to the party.
The officials reportedly told him that the farmers of the area were not really against the food park, but against the pollutants to be released by it and they were fearing that the pollution would affect their crops.
While asking the officials concerned to take immediate steps to divert the pollutants into the sea through pipeline, Naidu is learnt to have constituted a committee headed by District Collector to have consultations with the farmers in the area and understand their demands.
Naidu, however, said the Food Park had already been set up at a cost of Rs 25 crore and it was not possible to shift the same from the place. Instead, the officials to take all measures to allay apprehensions among the people and solve their issues.
He also ordered lifting of any curbs on the movement of people in the area and remove police pickets.
Now, the question is why Naidu, who had been adamant all these days on the food park issue, has suddenly started showing concern towards farmers.
One reason could be Pawan Kalyan, who threatened to take up agitation on behalf of farmers and warned that Bhimavaram could become another Nandigram, if the government did not act.
But the real reason is the proposed visit of YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on October 19.
Naidu knows if Jagan enters the scene, it would blow up into big political issue and there is every possibility that farmers might turn in favour of Jagan in big numbers. That is why, Naidu is trying for damage control now!
