The government is contemplating developing Amaravathi as the new State capital by renaming it as NTR district and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is likely to make an announcement in this regard in the Telugu Desam Party’s Foundation Day on March 29, Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy said here on Saturday.
Refuting charges that the government was forcibly taking lands for the new capital, Mr. Krishnamurthy told mediapersons that the government had acquired 32,000 acres with the consent of farmers and the process of acquiring 7,000 more acres was in progress.
The government would develop basic infrastructure, national highways and industrial hubs, he added.
Pattiseema
Terming the hue and cry raised by the Opposition parties on Pattiseema project as unwarranted, the Deputy Chief Minister said completion of Pattiseema would augment irrigation and drinking water facilities in Rayalaseema region.
Mr. Krishnamurthy indicated the scope for amending the Revenue Act to plug loopholes as the terminology such as “adangal and ajamayishi” lacked clarity.
Referring to Special Economic Zones sanctioned in the past, he alleged that industrialists’ mortgaged lands allotted to them to secure bank loans, but neither set up any new industry nor generated employment.
In Lepakshi hub in Anantapur district, entrepreneur Prasad Reddy mortgaged 8,500 acres and secured bank loans, the Deputy Chief Minister said.
The government issued a G.O. to resume the land after the State Cabinet took a decision after deliberating on the issue, he said.
Deputy Chairman of A.P. Legislative Council S.V. Satish Kumar Reddy, Government Whip M. Mallikarjuna Reddy, former MLAs P. Ramasubba Reddy, M. Linga Reddy and N. Varadarajulu Reddy, party leaders R. Srinivasulu Reddy, Y. Subbarayudu, Ameer Babu, R. Venkatasubba Reddy and S. Goverdhan Reddy participated.
