The repetition of the mistake of ‘capital-centric development’ in Amaravati would fuel movements for separation in other parts of the State. This was pointed out by Justice BN Sri Krishna Committee and later echoed by the Sivaramakrishnan Committee, former Minister Konathala Ramakrishna has said.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who had admitted his ‘Hyderabad mistake’ and promised decentralised development in all 13 districts of the State, was now concentrating only on Amaravati region, ignoring other regions of the State, Mr. Ramakrishna told the media here on Monday.
The TDP 2014 election manifesto also promised all round development of the State.
The people of Visakhapatnam had not asked for the capital, though the city has all advantages. But, the backward districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam, which comprise North Andhra, have been denied their due even after three years of the new government coming to power.
Mr. Ramakrishna said the 400-bed Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), set up during the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy government, was functioning only partially with the beds lying unused for the past five years.
He demanded converting VIMS into the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) as the proposed AIIMS in Guntur was ‘fat-fetched’ as there is nothing but an empty land parcel, surrounded by a compound wall. The government could have easily opted for VIMS as it was fully ready in terms of buildings and allied infrastructure.
All that was needed was its appropriate up gradation to enable setting up of AIIMS. Saying that the entire cost would be borne by the Centre, the former Minister reiterated his demand for setting up of AIIMS in Visakhapatnam. Further, the infant mortality as also maternal mortality was the highest in North Andhra.
He said he would convene a meeting of all political parties in the near future to enlist their support to achieve the long-pending demands of North Andhra.
