Taking the Independence Day celebrations to Rayalaseema region for the second time in three years after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday announced a Rs. 6,554-crore special development package for Anantapur district for a plethora of steps that include drought-proofing.
By selecting Anantapur for the flag-hoisting and announcement of the largesse, Mr. Naidu, apparently wanted to remove a perception that Rayalaseema and the state’s most backward and drought-prone district were being neglected. “Anantapur was always close to the heart of NTR, our party’s founder. We will name this Rs. 6,554-crore initiative after him and with his inspiration I want to take it forward. A major part of it — Rs. 1,764 crore — will be utilised for drought- proofing.”
The other components include Rs. 2,400 crore for agriculture, Rs. 1,423 crore for horticulture, Rs. 775 crore for dairying, Rs. 850 crore and Rs. 450 crore for the Peruru and Bhairavanitippa irrigation projects respectively, another Rs. 450 crore for reviving and modernising 450 tanks.
The number of farm ponds will be doubled from the current target of one lakh. All these are aimed at drought-proofing the district.
“We will ensure that entire Rayalaseema region which was neglected in the Congress rule sees all-round development.”
Unfurling the tricolour at the Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy Police Training College (PTC) stadium, Mr. Naidu reiterated his vision of making the State the best in the country by 2029 and the most developed in the world by 2050 while recalling how the undivided state of Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad developed during his earlier stint ending 2004. He paid homage to the freedom fighters and recalled how Anantapur gave birth to some big achievers like Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft.
“Congress the culprit”Devoting major part of his speech to the “unscientific and unfair bifurcation” that left Andhra Pradesh without a capital city and with a deficit budget, Mr. Naidu said the process of separation was based on “a political conspiracy hatched” by the Congress.
“While the announcement of bifurcation was made on AICC president Sonia Gandhi’s birthday, the actual separation happened on June 2, Italy’s republic day. We are facing challenges owing to this unfair bifurcation and much of my time is going into facing them.”
