K.C. Sivaramakrishnan’s article, >“Eye on capital, loss in vision” , (April 20) is yet another example of how the political masters of India are hell-bent on divesting poor and hapless farmers of fertile land. That more than 30,000 acres of fertile land could give way to the making of a capital is the expression of a most vulgar dream of a man known to be a visionary. The day is not far off when the rice bowl of India will have to buy rice from other States.
George Alexander,
Chennai
The huge amounts likely to be paid to farmers as compensation for lost land are sure to be wasted on luxuries in next to no time; one foresees farmers who are tillers and crop producers being at a loss and becoming a burden to their families and society in a few years. We used to admire the technocrat in Mr. Naidu but what one sees now is a changed person. Water and land are non-negotiables and their use must be thought about wisely.
Rajyalakshmi Telikicherla,
Hyderabad
Utilising verdure for so-called infrastructure development is nothing but state-sponsored vandalism. A state which has a feeble economic base requires a modest scale of operations that balances development and welfare. It is a fact that there are tracts of lands which are not agriculturally as rich as ones marked for the capital.
In addition, it is to be understood that the move seems to be another example of a centralisation of activity in a limited area in spite of institutions being proposed to be established at different places in the State. If such a thing was to be done, it will lead to more fissiparous activity in the State which is not at all a healthy proposition in the larger interests of AP.
Ram Chandra Kalluri,
Vijayawada
The ‘conversion’ of agricultural land to other uses such as prawn and fish ponds has been going on for the last two decades in the Krishna and Godavari deltas; the extent is even greater in the Krishna delta. While this may not have impacted food production, it has polluted the water table. More than the loss of 30,000 acres being a loss for agriculture, there needs to be concern over the status of the former land owners once the capital is constructed. The land converted to fish ponds in the deltas could be reclaimed and given to them as compensation for their ‘contribution’ to Amaravathi.
When completed, the Polavaram dam will ensure the cultivation of nearly eight lakh acres. Here, parcels of 5,000 acres each can be used for intensive cultivation by creating mini-reservoirs/tanks. The only drawback as far as Amaravthi is concerned is possible waterlogging on account of the Kondaveeti vagu . The waters of the vagu have to be diverted as a drinking water source. In any area, there will be both pros and cons. and one has to be pragmatic.
K.V. Subba Rao,
Hyderabad
