Visakhapatnam: The Bhogapuram International Airport will bring about large-scale development of the region, particularly the Saripalli Industrial Park that would create employment in the north coastal Andhra Pradesh region.
Industries minister Gudivada Amarnath, stated this at a Samajika Sadhikara Bus Yatra public meeting at Nellimarla in Vizianagaram district on Tuesday.
He said the region remained neglected since Independence. After Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy took charge as chief minister, the development for the region started, he said.
Work on the Rs.4,700 crore airport is going on and after commissioning, it could provide jobs to 50,000 unemployed youths from the region. The CM will also lay the stone for the Saripalli Industrial Park close to the airport, he said.
Revenue minister Dharmana Prasada Rao said land survey was conducted during the British era. “Now, the chief minister initiated a land survey and is giving proper documents to the land-owning farmers,” he said.
“Thousands of acres of land under the control of landlords, royal families and zamindars are now being given to the actual owners in the villages,’’ Prasada Rao said.
He said the Centre proposed to make Visakhapatnam the state capital, but Chandrababu Naidu changed the recommendation overnight and announced Amaravati as the AP capital.
The state government purchased land by spending Rs.12,800 crore to build homes for 32 lakh people who never had a shelter, he said.
Deputy chief minister Rajanna Dora said,”Chandrababu Naidu ignored the minorities, the STs and SCs, but Jagan Mohan Reddy made two tribals and one from the minorities the deputy chief ministers, Dora said.
Fisheries minister Seedari Appala Raju said chief minister Jagan Reddy developed 45,000 schools by spending '15,000 crore under the Nadu-Nedu programme.
“The Samajika Sadhikara Yatra has become a festival for the people,’’ Appala Raju said.
Vizianagaram MP Bellana Chandrasekhar and Nellore MLA Appala Naidu also spoke.
