Y Satya Kumar
BJP National Secretary
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jaganmohan Reddy, in his quest of decentralization of administration, had proposed to form three capitals of Andhra Pradesh.The decision caused a lot of hardships to thousands of farmers and people of Amaravati region. Yet, the rulers turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to all their woes.
There is no trace of development anywhere in Andhra Pradesh. Not a single project has been executed so far. Funds released by the Centre are being diverted to other activities. The rulers have driven the state to the brink of bankruptcy by borrowing to the tune of Rs 7 lakh crore.
Sarpanches have charged the state government with diverting their money to other purposes. They are virtually begging for funds.The law and order situation in AP is worse than that of Bihar. Under the current regime, 18 murders took place in Visakhapatnam alone. Mafia is ruling the roost across the state.
When people tried to meet Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan on October 16, notices were served on Jana Sena that its leaders had violated prohibitory orders. Police personnel were deployed heavily. Why did the police keep mum when YSRCP took out a huge rally in the steel city the previous day with its elected people’s representatives? What more evidence is required to prove that the police are handinglove with the ruling party?
The AP Reorganisation Act 2014 had laid down that national level universities should be formed in the new state of Andhra Pradesh in 10 years. The Modi government took steps to establish them in two years.The Centre established IIM, Girijan University, Petro University and NIDM in north coastal Andhra Pradesh. It established a central university, IIT, IITDM, and IISER in the Rayalaseema region. In coastal AP, NIT, and AIIMS were established. Besides, the Centre established an IT incubation center, Center for Electromagnetic Environment Effects in Visakhapatnam, IIFT and the Indian Institute of Packaging in Kakinada.This is how Modi defines decentralisation.
The Modi government has rendered justice to many parts of the state in terms of establishing educational institutions and granting developmental projects. After 2014, national highways up to a length of 3,720 km were developed. Plans have been drafted to invest Rs 1.40 lakh crore for exploration of natural gas and petroleum. The projects include establishment of a green field chemical complex in Kakinada, making investments in off-shore exploration in Krishna-Godavari basin, and establishment of a refinery in Visakhapatnam. Additionally, it was proposed to establish alternative operation base, multi-modal logistic hub, medical equipment park in Visakhapatnam and navy airport in Vizianagaram.
Missile testing centers were proposed in Krishna district and a national open-air range evaluation center in Kurnool. Arrangements are under way to develop the Buckingham canal.A greenfield electronics manufacturing cluster is being developed in Krutamala village of Chittoor district at a cost of Rs 339.8 crore. The Center has decided to develop Srikalahasti in Chittoor district, Visakhapatnam and Kadapa under thelimits of Visakhapatnam-Chennai corridor, Krishnapatnam under theChennai-Bengaluru industrial corridor andOrvakallu under the Hyderabad-Bengaluru industrial corridor. This would ensure all-round development.
In fact, Rs 47,989 crore worth railway projects are being implemented in AP. Under the National Infrastructure Pipeline, works involving Rs 8,16,583 crore investments are being granted to AP.These include projects in transport and logistics, energy, community and commercial amenities (including drinking water and sanitation) and communication spheres.
The state and Centre had decided to take up jointly railway projects worth Rs 15,846.35 crore, but the state government is not contributing its share of Rs 3,073.50 crore towards them.The AP government is not procuring land for executing the Nadikudi-Srikalahastirailwayline. It is not coming forward to pay its share of the project cost. Hence, the Bhadrachalam-Kovvuru new railway line project, Kadapa-Bengaluru railway line and the Kotipalli-Narsapur new railwayline projects have been stalled.
In contrast, the Jagan government did not launch any project that provides employment to at least one person. Although the AP government has been diverting funds, the Modi government released Rs 2 lakh crore towards the state’s share of central pool of taxes, Rs 2.22 lakh crore towards grants, and Rs 14,000 crore towards loans and advances.In 2020-21, the Centre increased the limit on state’s borrowing to Rs 50,896 crore from Rs 42,472 crore.Still, the Jagangovernment continues to be in a deep financial crisis.
