Thadi village rehabilitation process begins; 56 acres identified for new colony
The Anakapalli district administration has initiated steps to rehabilitate and relocate families from Thadi village, who have been living amid pollution from pharmaceutical units in the Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City (JNPC) at Parawada for several years.
At a special meeting held at the Collectorate on Thursday (August 6, 2026), District Collector Vijaya Krishnan, Pendurthi MLA Panchakarla Ramesh Babu, representatives of Thadi village and officials from various departments discussed the decade-long demand for relocation. The primary focus was on shifting residents under the Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) programme to Pedda Mushidivada village in Pendurthi mandal.
The administration proposed developing a full-fledged R&R colony at the new location, equipped with basic infrastructure and essential civic amenities. Revenue officials informed the meeting that 56 acres of government land have been identified at Pedda Mushidivada for establishing the proposed colony. The Collector directed the Parawada Tahsildar to prepare and submit the layout for the colony within seven days, following applicable rules and regulations.
The meeting also reviewed the number of Project Displaced Families (PDFs) identified in 2016 and discussed the present status of families eligible for rehabilitation benefits. The administration is expected to verify the eligible beneficiaries as part of the rehabilitation process. Officials and village representatives also discussed measures to provide a permanent solution to the problems faced by residents and to ensure that the relocation is carried out systematically.
Ms. Vijaya Krishnan said the meeting was convened in accordance with directions from the State government and an assurance given to the residents of Thadi to address their long-standing concerns.
Thadi village is located a few kilometres from JNPC, which houses many pharmaceutical units. Residents have alleged air and water pollution caused by emissions and discharges from these units. For years, villagers have demanded rehabilitation, citing concerns over pollution and its adverse impact on their health and quality of life.
Over the years, a number of families have already moved out of the village, unable to cope with the pollution and associated concerns. Some residents have reported respiratory and skin-related problems and have expressed worries about the quality of drinking water. However, several families who cannot afford to pay rent elsewhere, or are reluctant to leave their ancestral homes, continue to live in Thadi. With many original residents moving out, several houses have been rented out to workers employed in the pharmaceutical units in JNPC, while the owners have shifted to other parts of the city or nearby areas.
The administration's decision to move forward with the rehabilitation process is seen as a significant step toward addressing the grievances of the affected residents. The planned R&R colony at Pedda Mushidivada is expected to provide a safer and healthier living environment.
Joint Collector Shauryaman Patel, representatives of the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), officials from the Mines and Geology department, the Parawada Tahsildar and officials from other concerned departments participated in the meeting.
