Vijayawada: State government draws flak for making no major allocation of funds in the Budget to develop capital city Amaravati.
Though the previous TD regime roped in experts from overseas and came up with an estimated cost of Rs 1.01 lakh crore to develop world-class capital city and capital region in a phased manner by 2050, so far in the first phase, as many as 34 works worth of Rs 38,000 crore out of total estimated cost of Rs 51,000 crore, were grounded and they were at various stages of progress at present. Under housing project for ministers, MLAs, MLCs, judges, state employees and others, nearly 65 per cent of works were completed so far while with regard to development of 320 km stretch of road, only 45 per cent of works were done so far while land acquisition for laying road is coming as a stumbling block as farmers are unwilling to part with their lands for the quantum of relief assured. Development of infrastructure for various utility services is in progress.
The issue of returnable plots measuring 1,450 square yards for an acre of fertile land and 1,250 square yards for an acre of non-fertile land, acquired through land pooling for development of capital city from the farmers is pending while payment of annuity worth of Rs 166 crore to the farmers for acquiring their land, is also pending for clearance.
Proposed construction of an iconic bridge across Krishna river connecting Ibrahimpatnam to Rayapudi is pending even as the foundation stone was laid for the project while the proposed development of three iconic buildings to accommodate secretariat, chief minister’s office, general administration department and others remain unattended and also the works on proposed Buddhist Stupa at a height of 225 metres with a view point at 100 metres height designed by the London based world renowned Norman Foster, are not yet started.
However, the state government in its Budget allotted Rs 500 crore for creation of essential infrastructure for new capital city and also Rs 50 crore for Amaravati capital city development and no more major allocations directly linked to development of capital city.
AP Capital Region Development Authority officials maintain that with no mobilisation of funds at global level through international monetary agencies like World Bank and others and also at Central level and with poor allocations in state Budget due to the precarious financial status of the state, the works on development of capital city may get delayed for years unless both the Centre, state government and the global players come in to develop it.
Telugu Desam senior leader K. Atchannaidu said, “It is shame on the part of YSR Congress government and the Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for making meagre allocation of funds for such a major project in the Budget. It is nothing but humiliating the five crore people in the state as they are eagerly waiting for development of capital city Amaravati.”
