The Coastal Corridor and SEZ Act would deprive the common man of his basic right to life, said the convenor of the Coastal Corridor Nirmana Vyatireka Porata Committee, Mr K.S. Chalam, and the state secretary of the Human Rights Forum, Mr V.S. Krishna. Addressing a press conference here on Monday, they said the 8-day Jagruti Jatha organised by both the organisations seeking scrapping of GO No. 34 and the SEZ Act, 2005, ended on Sunday. Mr Krishna said the Jatha was flagged off from the coastal village of Baruva in Sompeta mandal of Srikakulam district on April 20, covered 54 villages in 23 mandals spanning the four districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaam, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari. It culminated in a public meeting at Sriramupuram in U.Kothapalli mandal of East Godavari. The village is the focal point of a stiff resistance being put up by farmers and fisherfolk against the proposed Kakinada SEZ. They said the State government should immediately suspend plans on the coastal corridor process since it would destroy the livelihood of lakhs of people in the nine coastal districts of the State. Principally, farmers, farm labour, artisans and fisherfolk would be displaced. Moreover, polluting industries would play havoc with marine life and the already fragile eco-systems, they alleged. The SEZs have already turned into huge real estate scams. Now the coastal corridor, stretching from Tada to Ichapuram is being sought to be thrust on the people. Plans are on to acquire 1.5 lakh acre in the first phase between Bheemili and Kakinada. It would pose a serious threat to food security. "We want this loot of natural resou-rces to stop since livelihood concerns are being gravely undermined. The government's contention that these industries would throw up thousands of jobs is a plain lie," he added. A public meeting will be at the Gurajada Kalashetra on May 3 to press these demands. Ms Medha Pat-kar, Mr K. Balagopal, Bojja Tarakam and Mr B.D. Sharma would be speaking at the event, he said.