The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : No cheer for many

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 09, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

No cheer for many

It was bouquets and brickbats for Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. His three-day visit to North Andhra has pepped up the spirit of Congressmen but disappointed many for not making any major announcement on revival of Hindustan Shipyard Limited and Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels.

The visit, timed just before the elections to the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, also failed in getting the much-needed direction to sort out teething troubles in acquisition of land for Ceramic City by APIIC near Duvvada. Dr. Reddy inaugurated an international conference on ceramics in Andhra University but evaded any specific assurance on clearing bottlenecks for acquiring land for the project belying the hopes of several entrepreneurs.

The only positive development of the visit was a marathon seven-hour review by the Chief Minister at the Collectorate. He created a record of sorts by visiting Collectorate and interacting with district officials directly on the status of various projects. The TDP created a ruckus for asking its MLAs to get out of the review meeting for insisting on status of Raiwada.

The Chief Minister's visit was a big occasion for the Congressmen. With the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation elections approaching, everyone wants to hog the limelight during such programmes. Several Congress leaders were present at the foundation function for the prestigious Visakhapatnam Institute of Medical Sciences at the Old Dairy Farm on Monday. Besides MLAs, Ministers and chairmen of several corporations, even small-time politicians got themselves seated on the dais at the meeting after the Chief Minister had unveiled the plaque. As a result, two IAS officers and officers of the Medical and Health Department, including the OSD of the VIMS, had to stand behind the two rows of chairs!

One is reminded of John Milton's line, "They also serve who only stand and wait."

Motorists and pedestrians passing by Thatichetlapalem on the National Highway (NH-5), during the past three months, were in for a pleasant surprise to find huge residential complexes in place of a slum. On being told that they were constructed for the poor, some envied the luck of the poor for winning the jackpot while others felt happy that the marginalised sections would finally get a decent house in the city.

"They are constructed on a par with private apartment complexes. The beneficiaries are very lucky," an auto-rickshaw driver told his passengers while cursing himself for not being so lucky. The occupants readily agreed with his statement as the neatly painted buildings appeared better than some of the private apartment complexes.

As months passed by, people began wondering why the houses were not being allotted to beneficiaries. Some wondered why residential complexes should be named after Congress leaders while others reasoned: "After all they have constructed so good houses for the poor, what's wrong in naming them after party leaders"?

The cat was out of the bag after the Chief Minister inaugurated the complex named after himself on Saturday.

The officials hired floodlights and a motor to draw water. Later, it was learnt that from the next day the `lucky beneficiaries' have to wait for power and drinking water supply for some more time.

The `poor beneficiaries' would not mind waiting for a few months for getting basic amenities.

The million dollar question is: "For how long"?

In the meantime, one should stop envying the beneficiaries and remember the maxim: "Appearances can be deceptive".

Santosh Patnaik, G. V. Prasada Sarma, B. Madhu Gopal

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