In case bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh is inevitable, several measures could be taken to better the lot of Girijans in the State, Minister for Tribal Welfare P. Balaraju said in identical letters sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister and Chairman of GoM on State bifurcation A.K. Antony .
Mr. Balaraju sought Tribal Development Councils with adequate funds for both regions to take up welfare programmes for Girijans; establishment of tribal universities in the Seemandhra and Telangana areas; laying of three National Highways covering the Girijan areas and a railway line Rajahmundry to Araku via Rampachodavaram, Chintapalli and Paderu; converting areas under all major ITDAs – Paderu, Bhadrachalam, Utnoor and Rampachodavaram – into new districts; opening a medical college in tribal area along with institutions for technical and professional courses; improvement of communication system and development of Girijan areas as tourism hubs by providing special packages.
In the letters, Mr. Balaraju suggested laying of one National Highway from Tallapalem on the NH-16 to Bhadrachalam, via Narsipatnam, Chintapalli, G.K. Veedhi, Darakonda, Upper Sileru, Lower Sileru and Mothugudem, connecting Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and Khammam district and also three adjacent States; another NH covering tribal areas of Chintapalli, G. Madugula, Paderu, Hukumpeta, Dumbriguda, Araku, Anantagiri and S. Kota in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts and the third to connect Vaddadi, Paderu, Pedabayalu, Munchingput and Jwalapet.
A State highway was needed connecting Narsipatnam, K.D. Peta, Koyyuru in Visakhapatnam district and Rajavommangi and Rampachodavaram in East Godavari district along with strengthening and widening of the existing State Highway between K.D. Peta and Chintapalli via Pedavalasa, Mr. Balaraju said in the letter released to press here on Tuesday.
