In India, 70% of the people depend solely on agriculture. The main resource for this is cultivable land. Land is mainly in the hands of landlords, brokers and industrialists. Only by implementing land reforms can we bring an end to unemployment and poverty. Even a report released by the World Bank mentions that in India, to end unemployment and poverty, it is necessary to distribute the land. But the AP State Govt. which implements each and every anti-people policy of World Bank, has thrown the Land Reforms Act into the dustbin. In the name of ‘new agricultural methods’, they are ready to hand over lakhs of acres of land to corporates. It is also trying to snatch the lakes, waste lands and lanka lands from the poor specially dalits and tribals, and hand them over to corporates.

Illegal Digging of Prawn Lakes in Masakapally Region

Some landlords, joining hands with ruling class politicians, are digging illegal prawn lakes in Masakapally region, which is in Ganganaram mandal of East Godavari District. Nearly 50 tractors and other modern implements have been used in this digging. Over 200 acres of lanka lands have already been changed into lakes. In this region, spread over 10 villages panchayats, farmers cultivate maize, jute, green gram, black gram, beans, chili etc. to eke out their livelihood. Some have coconut farms. Such cultivation is spread over 1000 acres of land. The prawn businessmen are using all means to occupy this land and mint crores while snatching the livelihood of farmers and fishermen. Neither the concerned authorities nor the ‘people’s representatives’ are showing any concern about it.

Exploiters’ Eyes on Lanka Lands

Rich businessmen of Mamidinaram, Ayanvilli and Kujuluni Mandal have their eyes on these lanka lands. Some are tempting the farmers with money, others are leasing land. Some lands belonging to dalits are being forcibly occupied. Those who are refusing to lease their lands are being threatened and harassed. They have also occupied govt. lands which the poor used to cultivate. The prawn lakes coming up are causing great harm to animal feed, environment, water used for irrigation or for drinking. Underground water gets polluted, so the coastal villages will face scarcity of drinking water and also surrounding agricultural land becomes infertile. Food and medicines used  for the prawns pollute river water and harm fish growth. Many types of diseases are also likely to spread.

Suppression of Employment

Villagers living along the sea coast of Maskapally region are agricultural labourers, farmers or fishermen. Except during flood, they are completely dependent on work found in lanka lands. Landless collect animal feed from these lands and earn a living. The digging of prawn lakes in this region will lead to rampant unemployment and even starvation deaths. Further, if the businessmen face losses and abandon the lakes, farmers will have to invest thousands to turn them into agricultural lands.

  People’s Struggle

For all these reasons, the local people are opposing the digging of prawn lakes in Masakapally. On 7^th January 2001, when officials came to the village on the occasion of 14^th Janambhomi, people demanded that the digging be stopped. The officials were gheraoed for eight hours. To protect them, police locked them inside a school. Members of AIKMS, PYL and Arunodaya kept vigil at the gates, singing songs. At 5 P.M., the MRO gave an assurance and the gherao was lifted.

However, digging continues. The AIKMS Rajamundry is building up an agitation on this question. On 22^nd January, a procession of 500 farmers and agricultural labourers was taken out in Kakinada. It ended at the Collector’s office where a memorandum was submitted. On 2^nd February, a public meeting was held at Masakapally where nearly 1000 people participated. AIKMS State President Com. Diwakar addressed the gathering along with state leaders. On the same day, 500 people demonstrated near the Collector’s office and gave a memorandum to the Minister inchanrge of the district, Tummula Nageshwar Rao.