Kurnool: Municipal administration and urban development minister Botsa Satyanaraya, who had stirred up a controversy of the suitability of Amaravati as the capital city of AP said on Wednesday that he was committed to his remarks and there was no change in his stated views. He reiterated that Amaravati was not suitable for a capital city as construction cost was prohibitively astronomical due to soil weakness and foundational problems.
Mr Satyanarayana was in Kurnool on Wednesday addressing the district review committee (DRC) meeting with all 14 MLAs, 2 MLCs and 2 MPs from the district. Issues relating to drinking water supply, irrigation, health and infrastructure issues came up for discussion, said a legislator. The meeting was held in-camera, barring entry to media personnel. The DRC meeting was last held in 2011 and held now after a gap of 8 years.
Mr Satyanarayana, who is also in-charge minister for Kurnool district said that legislators in coordination with officials should find solutions to problems faced by people. He said that Navaratnalu implementation was of paramount importance to state government and asked legislators to help the implementation of schemes.
He said that government was committed to providing house sites to the landless in the state and 25 lakh house pattas would be distributed by the next Ugadi festival. On court cases pending over house sites in Kurnool, Adoni and Nandyal, he directed the respective RDOs to review and find a suitable solution to the problem.
Several legislators raised issues relating to drinking water in their constituencies. The minister was not convinced with the official version and advised officials to work in coordination with legislators and solve it speedily. The irrigation meeting would be held in about 10 days in Vijayawada to come up with a plan about irrigation projects and water sharing, he said.
Labour minister Gummanur Jayaram said that the drinking water problem could be overcome by implementing the water grid scheme.
Finance minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy said that a resolution has been passed to hand over the issue of the Nandyal sugar factory to the CID and find a solution for the victims.
He said that lands and shareholders’ properties were fraudulently sequestered by the previous government. The minister said that pending bills to contractors are being released and asked contractors to take up works.
