The growing clamour for new capital to the residual Andhra Pradesh State has triggered unrest among various sections.
After losing out the battle to keep Andhra Pradesh united, leaders of Seemandhra region have shifted focus to promoting their respective cities as the best bet to set up the new capital. Amid hectic lobbying, they have been beating their own drums in an attempt to prop up their districts as the most important destination for a new capital in terms of development, by presenting a rosy picture.
The stoic silence of leaders in Krishna District, in stark contrast to the growing clangour, is causing considerable discomfort to the people. Representatives of various segments have been expressing concern over lack of a proper guide to spearhead the ‘Vijayawada-fittest-destination-for-new-capital’ campaign, but former Education Minister Kolusu Parthasaradhy has allayed public fears.
“I have written to the Union Ministers about the need to project Vijayawada as the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh. Very soon, all people’s representatives, regardless of their party affiliations, will come together on a common platform to press the government to take a pragmatic stand on the issue,” former Minister Kolusu Parthasaradhy told The Hindu on Wednesday.
Infrastructure facilities He said information was being gathered on the existing infrastructure facilities in the region. “We have even identified 18,000 acres in the surrounding mandals of Agiripalli, Musunuru, Gannavaram and Nuzvid. Besides geographical advantage of being centrally located, we have a health university here (Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences) in addition to Krishna University and Acharya Nagarjuna University,” he said.
About 11,000 acres was available and sanctioned funds for development of the Vijayawada airport near Gannavaram; the highways are connected to all places and most importantly, for water resource, the region has Krishna River traversing through the heart of the city, he said.
Referring to the threat of Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy, founder of the Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samithi, who proposed that Kurnool should get back its status of a capital city or else a separate Rayalaseema State should be formed, Mr. Parthasaradhy said such remarks would only widen the rift between regions.
“Leaders engaged in the task of deciding the new capital must be driven solely by the advantages of a place,” he said.
