Andhra Pradesh govt allots land for missile testing range in Kurnool district

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday allotted 2,295 acres of land for a missile testing range coming up in Kurnool district.

"The State Cabinet has taken a decision to allot 2,295 acres of land for national open air range of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in the villages of

Palakolanu, Kuppalapadu and Uyyalavada of Orvakallu mandal in Kurnool district," state Information Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy told reporters at Rajahmundry.

The cabinet meeting was held at Rajahmundry, where Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is staying put in view of the ongoing 'Godavari Pushkaram’.

"The land is allotted at the rate of Rs 2 lakh per acre. The DRDO has come forward to complete the project by 2018 with an investment of Rs 500 crore and provide employment for as many as 5,000 people," the minister said.

It was also decided to allot 43.1 acres of land for Divi's Resorts in Vizianagaram district to develop a golf course, eco park and wayside amenities for tourism project, he added.

"The land is to the extent of 33 acres and 9 cents in G Chodavaram area under survey no.33/1, ten acres and nine cents in survey no. 23/3 of Kamavaram. It is allotted at Rs six per acre," Reddy said.

The minister observed that it was only the second time that a Cabinet meeting was held outside the common capital of Hyderabad.

The first meeting was held in Visakhapatnam immediately after the Cabinet members were sworn in. It was also decided to hold Cabinet meetings outside Hyderabad in the future also, he said.