The State Government's proposal to handover the Bhavani Island, an entertainment and recreation centre being run by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), has invited stiff opposition.
The CPI(M) activists staged a dharna near Berm Park opposing the privatisation of the tourist centre, while the TDP and YSR Congress Party came down heavily on the State Government, here on Tuesday.
The government so far was handing over mines and agricultural lands to private people. Now, it was planning to give away the rivers and islands on a platter to the corporate and private companies. It was unfortunate that a natural resource such as Bhavani Island, which was one of the very few recreations for middle class and poor, was being privatised, they said.
The government was looting the natural resources with its moves. Demanding the government to withdraw the proposal, they asserted that the government would have to face the wrath of public if it does not desist from privatisation.
Mylavaram MLA and TDP District President Devineni Umamaheswara Rao alleged that the government was poised to handover the island to a cartel of Vijayawada (West) MLA Velampalli Srinivas Rao, Anakapalle MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Allu Aravind, brother in law of Chiranjeevi. It seems to be a quid pro quo for them for supporting the Congress, he said. At a separate press conference, YSR Congress Party City spokesperson Tadi Sakuntala said that there was no clarity on the government's proposals. The officials and public representatives were hand in glove to loot the Bhavani Island. “Adi valla abba somma? (is it their ancestral property to handover to handful of people? We will oppose tooth and nail,” she said. CPI(M) State Committee member Ch. Babu Rao feared that there were chances losing rights over the river and island if it were to be privatised. The move was only to appease the MLAs, he said.
