‘Developing infrastructure more important than building capital’

Sobanadreeswara Rao says Central offices should be distributed to all the 13 districts. For instance, all profit making diaries should be allowed to build an office for the Animal Husbandry Department.

Development of infrastructure like power plants, roads, ports, railway lines and Central and State institutions in the new State is much more important than spending a huge amount on building a capital, said former State Minister and MP Vadde Sobanadreeswara Rao.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Mr Rao said the State should take a leaf from Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat. The State Assembly, High Court, Secretariat offices of the different department heads were located in 190 acres. The remaining government offices were all located in another 370 acres.

He said “makeshift” accommodation with all the required facilities could be provided quickly at relatively low cost for offices instead of spending huge amounts. Offices established for engineers and officials working on various irrigation and other infrastructure projects were temporary, but they looked like corporate offices on the inside.

He said there was little point in spending huge amounts to develop a capital especially when the State was all set to face a severe cash crunch. The Central Institutions listed in the Andhra Pradesh Re-Organisation Bill should be distributed to all the 13 districts to instil confidence among people that another mistake on the lines of Hyderabad would not be repeated.

Mr Rao said that the State government should revive the spirit of Janmabhoomi with people being made partners in development. Even in case of building the capital, donors should be given an opportunity to build specific blocks or departments. For instance, all profit making diaries should be allowed to build an office for the Animal Husbandry Department.

Names of donors should be displayed prominently on buildings or other infrastructure for which they contributed. “All the NRIs from a particular place, say Washington, California or St. Louis, should be asked to contribute for building of a wing of the Assembly. They are ready to do it. A general appeal will not be of any use. The government should instead seek help detailing about the specifics,” he said.

Mr Rao said that he gave a memorandum with all his ideas to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu when he met him in Hyderabad for the birth anniversary celebration of Dr. K.L. Rao.