Capital near delta may be the right choice

Sivaramakrishnan Committee to submit its report by August 20. The fertile belt of Vijayawada-Guntur is the choice of many politicians, but the prohibitive land cost becomes a deterrent as the government saddled by loan waiver burden.

The last word is not yet said over the location of Andhra Pradesh capital in the Vijayawada-Guntur region despite the State Government’s preference for the centrally located Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri region.

Even as the land prices skyrocketed with reports about Government’s preference, officials are now veering round the view an extended capital region would be a better option, as suggested by the Sivaramakrishnan Committee. They base their argument over issues relating to acquisition of fertile lands and building up other infrastructure.

Officials, who were unwilling to be quoted said, the areas near Vinukonda or Achampeta in Guntur district where there are huge tracts of government land available could be the best option for the extended capital region. Both these areas have adequate water availability as they are nearer to Krishna river as well as Nagarjunasagar/Pulichinthala and at the same time not too far from Rayalaseema.

The Sivaramakrishnan Committee which visited eight districts to evaluate the parameters for the location of the capital said it would have to visit Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa before submitting its report by August 20.

Mr. Sivaramakrishnan was categorical in his assertion that the committee has not yet zeroed in on any location and has an open mind as they were looking at the capital location by keeping land, water, natural resources, rail, road and air connectivity as well as economic, social and cultural growth areas. A votary of decentralised development, the committee sought a report from the government on where it proposed to set up 109 institutions so as to integrate them with their report on alternative locations for the capital.

Though vast tracts of government lands (54,000 acres) are available in Donakonda in Prakasam district, a proposal backed by some politicians, lack of water resources is cited as a drawback. The fertile belt of Vijayawada-Guntur is the choice of many politicians, but the prohibitive land cost becomes a deterrent as the government saddled by loan waiver burden. The only option left for Government is to clinch an ideal land development model with land owners whose properties would have to be acquired.

Authorities indicate that the government would be acquiring initially 5,000 acres to 10,000 acres only for construction of administrative buildings. Subsequently the capital region could be extended over uplands of Vinukonda or Achampeta over radius of 60 to 70 km which can be preserved and used for industrial promotion. These two sites are not only centrally located, but have rail and road connectivity.