Hit hard by scanty rainfall and droughts, not to mention neglect by successive governments, the backward Rayalaseema is craving for greater attention from the government, Opposition Leader in the A.P. Legislative Council C. Ramachandraiah said on Friday.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s bias towards the region, owing to a sense of resentment that the TDP was not patronised in the elections, could lead to another separatist movement, he warned.
Disputing the government’s claim that the State had no sick industries, Mr. Ramachandraiah said the Cuddapah Cooperative Sugars Ltd. at Chennur, Proddatur Milk Foods factory at Proddatur and Allwyn unit at Nandalur had turned sick and were closed down decades ago. Of late, as many as 174 pulverising mills in Mangampet that provided direct employment to 20,000 people and indirect employment to 12,000 more were also closed down. “The mills had deposited Rs. 165 crore for material supply, but the government had stopped raw material supply to pulversising units, threatening their existence,” he alleged.
Stating that the government was calling global tenders for excavation of barytes, he suggested supply of raw material to pulverising units at the existing rates and collection of revised rates after calling global tenders.
The government is not taking initiative to set up a steel plant in Kadapa district, though SAIL officials, following their visit to the district, had stated that the land on which an integrated steel plant was taken up by Bramhani Steels Ltd. was ideal for the project, he said. The DRDO unit that was proposed in Kadapa is being shifted to Chittoor, while the AIIMS, High Court, electronic and IT industries are mooted in coastal Andhra.
The Congress leader demanded a CBI or CID inquiry into the irregularities and corruption in the A.P. Mineral Development Corporation, rather than penalise pulverising units and deprive its workers of their livelihood. The government should complete the pending works between Pothireddipadu head regulator and Gandikota reservoir in Kadapa district, which required an investment of more than Rs. 200 crore and expedite works on Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi to boost irrigation in Anantapur district.
“Mr. Chandrababu Naidu should press the Centre to grant special status and funds to Andhra Pradesh,” he said and added that Guntakal should be made a railway zone and Kadapa airport works should be completed. Urdu university was announced in Kadapa, but a rift was created between Kadapla and Kurnool districts, he alleged. He also wanted clearance to the Somasila backwater scheme to cater to drinking water needs of Kadapa town.
