Kadapa steel plant to be ready in 36 months

VIJAYAWADA: Even as the question hour in the state assembly was stormy on Friday with protests from the Opposition, the government announced the Kadapa Steel Plant will be made ready in the next 36 months and admissions to five government medical colleges for MBBS course would begin in the 2023-24 academic year.

Telugu Desam MLAs Veeranjaneya Swamy and K Atchannaidu raised the question about the progress of Kadapa steel plant. Industries minister Gudivada Amarnath started to give answers but the TD legislators raised their voices.

TD MLAs said it was almost three years after the work began, but except for the boundary wall, no works are being carried out at the steel plant site and no compensation was given to farmers for the land acquired from them.

Minister Amarnath said the government has alienated 3148.68 acres of land and environmental clearance has been accorded to the steel plant. Works on road connectivity from NH-67, boundary wall, power, water and operating power works were under progress.

He said the government spent Rs 46.67 crore on the steel plant so far for land acquisition and other works. The implementation of the project will be done expeditiously and completed in 36 months, he said.

Answering questions from TD MLAs Anagani Satyaprasad, Gadde Rammohan and PGVR Naidu, health minister Vidadala Rajani said the AP government gave permission to establish 16 new medical colleges at a cost of Rs 7,880 crore. Administrative sanction was given for the funds release and works were under progress.

The TD legislators alleged that there was no progress in the erection of the medical colleges. This caused a flutter.

Minister Rajani said the government is establishing five medical colleges on priority basis to start the MBBS admissions from 2023-24 academic year. Medical colleges at Vizianagaram, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Machilipatnam and Nandyala would start functioning from next year, she said.

YSRC MLA Malladi Vishnu said the Chandrababu government demolished temples unnecessarily. He sought information about the total number of demolished temples and renovation of temples.  Minister for endowments Kottu Satyanarayana said 23 temples were demolished during 2014-19. Action was taken for the restoration of 19 temples.

TD MLAs Rama Naidu, Satyaprasad, China Rajappa and Veeranjaneya Swamy alleged poor progress to the Mega Housing Scheme and urged the state government to sanction Rs 2 lakh to each beneficiary to help construct the houses. Housing minister Jogi Ramesh said as many as 5.83 lakh houses were completed or nearing completion and the construction of another 7.83 lakh houses was under various phases.