The proposed coastal industrial corridor by the Infrastructure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd (INCAP) along the Andhra Pradesh coastline from Srikakulam to Nellore has attracted objections from the environmentalists, mass and some rights organisations. "The coastal corridor scheme is going to displace lakhs of people, disturb their integrated social systems and uproot them from their homes causing immense trauma. Lakhs of families would be affected by the industrial units themselves and their townships apart from the associated infrastructure," observed Mr V.S. Krishna of Human Rights Forum. A recently-formed outfit, Industrial Coastal Corridor Nirmana Vyathireka Porata Samithi, said the project would deprive the fishermen of their livelihood as their access to the sea would be affected. The project would contaminate the sea and the water bodies, affecting the health of the people, said the samithi convenor Mr K.S. Chalam. Pollution would also affect the groundwater resources, he said. "Disruption of the existing agricultural and other economic activity in this predominantly rural region would deprive unorganised workers including the artisans of their meagre livelihood as very few of them have appropriate skills to get employed in the industrial units to be set up," said Mr Chalam. Also, conversion of fertile agricultural land for industrial purpose would affect food security in the region. In the absence of a separate master plan, prepared in consultation with the people, the corridor would enc-ourage unplanned urbanisation and affect sanitation in the region, cause traffic congestion and affect the safety of the people. According to Vuda's latest master plan, the existing reservoirs and the proposed water availability from river Godavari taken together would not be sufficient to meet the agriculture and drinking water needs in the region, said the coastal areas convenor of forum for sustainable development, Mr S.B. Rao. "Leave alone the water needs of the existing industrial units. Addition of new industrial units would certainly lead to serious water scarcity in the region," he said. In the wake of the coastal corridor and the industrial units in it coming up under PPP scheme, Mr Rao suggested that INCAP should sincerely explore the possibility of involving the displaced families as equity owners of these projects so that the process of development may be win-win for all.