As many as 1,056 houses with 3,987 people in 16 villages, are likely to vanish due to the Vodarevu and Nizampatnam port infrastructure corridor (Vanpic) project in Prakasam district which will be set up at Rs 16,000 crore. A special collector had been appointed for acquiring 9,314 acres for the Vanpic project. But Communist leaders warned that they would never accept the project. "We have been living here for decades, dependent on fishing in the sea," said P. Yellamanda, a fisherman of Pattapupalem. "We do not know any other profession. At this age, how can we adopt other vocations? Authorities are saying they will give us places far from the seashore," he said. The government is planning to allot 8,802 acres of private lands and 2,000 of government lands to multinational companies in the name of the Vanpic project for Motupalli. If the Vanpic project materialises, many fishermen families will lose their livelihood, said the CPI district secretary, Mr M. Venkaiah. He said they would fight to revoke the transfer of these lands at Motupalli as 16 villages will be affected by the SEZ. The ancient Motupalli natural port, which has been in service from the ancient Chola era, will be modernised under the project. Historical records reveal that Motupalli is an ancient seaport, which flourished under the Kakatiyas, Reddy and Vijayanagara kings. Archaeological excavations at this place in the early 1970s revealed the existence of ring walls. A number of artifacts recovered from this place include Chinese and Chola coins, and a famous bronze statue of Nataraja. The port was extensively used during the regime of King Gajapatideva of the Vijayanagara kingdom during 1244-45, but lost its prominence during the British regime. The Vanpic project will be carried under private-government partnerships and the state government is to invest in the project, said the district collector, Mr K. Devanand. The government had already entered into an agreement with Rass-al-Khaima and Matrix companies which are taking up the project, he added. Motupalli port will be connected through a direct road with Biramgunta where an airport is going to be set up, he added. The port will bring 10 lakh job opportunities to Prakasam district, he said. They will justify the evacuation of people who need not worry about compensation as Matrix would pay spot compensation, he added, The collector said that they would provide employment to fishermen in various parts of the district.