A roundtable on ‘Bandar Port' has demanded Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy to spell out the government's stance on Machilipatnam port before March 29 in Assembly. Failing which, leaders at the conference said, Krishna district bandh will be organised on April 11.
Various political parties, including CPI, CPI(M) and YSR Congress Party, Bandar Port Sadhana Samithi, took part in the deliberations at the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-sponsored roundtable conference here on Saturday.
The people of Machilipatnam and surrounding areas were happy that their long-cherished dream of the port was about to become a reality when foundation stone was laid. They were pinning high hopes on the port as it was expected to give a boost to industrial development and economic growth in the district.
Once the port was constructed, Machilipatnam and image of Krishna district will completely change as it would undergo unprecedented development and provide employment to thousands of jobless people, the speakers opined.
But, the State Government has been insensitive to people's demand. The State Government had promised thrice to commence work in December 2010, February 2011, and June 2011. Even after four years of the foundation stone was laid, no sign of progress has been visible, they pointed out.
The port works were in a limbo ever since former Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy laid the foundation stone.
It was time to raise voice against the government's apathy. The government would not respond, if it were a lone demand for the Machilipantam people. Entire district needs to rise to the occasion and mount pressure on the government, they felt.
Machilipatnam MP Konakalla Narayana Rao, Mylavaram MLA and TDP district president Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, CPI district secretary A. Vanaja, CPI leader Suryadevara Nageswara Rao, CPI(M) leader V. Umamaheswara Rao, Samata Party former national president V.V. Krishna Rao, YSR Congress party leaders P. Gowtham Reddy and T. Padmavathi, Bandar Port Sadhana Samithi president Nidumolu Venkateshawara Prasad and others spoke.
