Switch to: తెలుగు
Home Tags Amaravati

Black Day observed in Kurnool

Telugu360
-
0
Black Day observed in Kurnool

Rayalaseema Vidyavantula Vedika, a forum of intellectuals from Rayalaseema, today, observed black day  protesting the building up of state capital in Andhra region against the spirit of Sri Bagh pact reached between Andhra and Rayalaseema leaders, as a  precondition to demand separate Andhra state from Madras state. The leaders also burnt the copies of GO No 121 issued recently by the Irrigation department which, they said,  would undermine the interests of Rayalaseema.

As per the Sri Bagh agreement, the capital of Andhra state,  which was restored following the division of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, should be located at Kurnool,  the leaders demanded. The leaders staged a dharna opposite Kurnool collectorate and vowed to intensify their agitation demanding the capital be located at Kurnool. They protested the laying of foundation stone for capital city at Amaravati and opposed the Prime Minister Modi‘s participation in the program which according to them had no people’s approval.

They deplored that the present government, instead of assuaging the hurt sentiments of the region, was perpetuating the injustice being meted out to the region.

The leaders cited the recent GO (No 121)issued recently to show how the government was planning to divert Krishna water to Nellore district through Kundu river from Pamulapadu village in Kurnool district. They said the GO was a clear provocation and indicative of government hostile attitude towards Rayalaseema. Region’s leaders Somasekhar Sarma (noted writer), Ravi Prakash (Rayalaseema JAC), Raghava Reddy (Rayalaseema Vidya Vantula Vedika), Bojja Dasarath Rami Reddy (Rayalaseema Sagu  Niru Sadhana Samiti),

Pinaka Pani (Virasam), Subbarayudu (Kula Nirmulana Samiti) Munemma (mahilala Hakkula Samiti) etc participated.

 

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Amaravati ceremony disappointing: JP

Telugu360
-
0
Amaravati ceremony disappointing: JP

Lok Satta Party founder  president Jaya Prakash Narayan expressed dissatisfaction on the way the foundation stone laying ceremony was conducted at Amaravati, today, in which Prime Minister Modi was the chief guest.

AP’s capital Amaravati’s foundation ceremony concluded on disappointing note, he tweeted minutes after the spectacular program concluded . “Except platitudes, nothing of substance has been announced,” he said. Jaya Prakash, who is fundamentally opposed to the concept of a capital where everything is concentrated, has been campaigning for decentralized approach to avoid the rebirth of  “Hyderabad”.

His tweets are :

“The key to youth’s future & state’s progress is tax incentives for investment & job creation. State didn’t ask, & PM didn’t offer them.”

“100% Corporate income tax & excise duty exemption for 10 years to all AP, or in the backward districts is crucial to investment & jobs.”

“It is all event management & platitudes devoid of substance & sense of future. The dream is to build a capital, not all round growth.”

“New York, LA, Chicago are not capital. The capital should merely be seat of govt; people should have very little to do with capital city.”

“We don’t need feudal culture of worshiping power & treating rulers as gods. We need governance & economy centered round people’s lives.”

 

 

 

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

CM sprays state soil and water over capital region

Telugu360
-
0
CM sprays state soil and water over capital region

Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu today performed spraying of the sacred soil and water brought from the all constituencies of Andhra Pradesh all across the Capital Region of Amaravati. Naidu did while flying in Helicopter. This act called “Samprokshanam” symbolizes the confluence all regions and rivers at Amaravati.

In the mean time, the village, udhandarayanipalem, is all set to receive the dignitaries arriving to attend the ceremony.It is expected that about 2 lakh people will witness the spectacular ceremony tomorrow afternoon. What is interesting is the farmers , who offered lands to the capital will be treated as the guests of honor. They occupy a pride of place beside the VIP gallery. About 25 thousand farmers are expected to attend teh ceremony from the close quarters.

Super Star Rajanikanth has joined forces with the construction of capital. As he is not able to make it to the function, he offered two ‘Kabali’ buses to Amaravati ceremony. These buses will be used to ferry the VIP s from Gannavaram airport to Ground Zero. As part of the arrangement, today air force personnel inspected the helipad at the ceremony venue, while chief minister Naidu monitored everything from a helicopter.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Festive mood in full bloom in Amaravati

Telugu360
-
0
Festive mood in full bloom in Amaravati

With the event that is going to herald a new phase in the history of Andhra Pradesh just 24 hour away, festive atmosphere is thick in the air everywhere in the Capital region of Guntur district and Vijayawada city with streets in towns and villages bustling with excited residents. The premises of all houses are decked up with traditional rangolis and colourful lights on the eve of the grand foundation laying ceremony that will be performed at Uddandarayunipalem in Guntur in afternoon of October 22, 2015.

Residents of Mandadam, Uddandarayunipalem, Krishnayapalem, Venkatapalem and abutting villages are literally in celebratory mood with most families inviting their relatives from far off places to witness the memorable event in which Prime Minister Modi is the chief guest. In Vijayawada, many government offices, guest houses, Prakasam Barrage, traffic islands, hotels and other establishments are being illuminated in the evenings for the event which is going to rewrite the history of the city on the banks of river Krishna.

While the district administrations are immersed in making elaborate arrangements for the successful conduct of the ceremony, villagers are getting ready to welcome a new festival into their calendar. From now onwards, October 22, will become a new annual festival for these people, which transformed not only geography of the region, their fortunes as well . For the past few days, the ambience has been exhilarating as the Amaravati ceremony coincided with Dasara Navaratri celebrations. The villagers from the capital region villages are thronging the area with their relatives to have a look at the place where foundation stone is being laid. The area, which is now taken into possession of SPG and NSG as part of the PM’s high security arrangements, is out of bounds for the ordinary people, even for the farmers, on whose lands the spot falls. Many farmers, who are proud owners of the land till the other day, are visiting the area for the last time. At Thullur police station, villagers decorated the statue of NTR with serial bulbs and put up banners to welcome VVIP guests to the Capital region. The villages are reverberating with classic hits from NTR movies and youth dancing to the songs.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

AP Congress too boycotts Amaravati ceremony

Telugu360
-
0
AP Congress too boycotts Amaravati ceremony

After YSR Congress, Andhra Pradesh Congress committee also announced that it was abstaining from the foundation stone laying ceremony of Amaravati capital. Party vice president Dr S Sailajanath, former minister Kondru Murali, party spokesperson Ganga Bhavani, general secretary Janga Gautham onTuesday said attending the function would amount to endorsement of all illegal and anti-people activities going in the name of capital.

“The capital construction is going on like the construction of CM’s private or party office. The capital is being developed in the land taken over from the farmers under threat. Thousands of fertile agricultural lands have been ruined for the capital ignoring the recommendations of Sivaramkrishnan committee. After taking about 33000 acres of land, now the government is planning to de-notify another 50 thousand acres of forest land for the construction of the capital. Even though the capital is a matter of 13 districts of the state, not once the political parties of the state have been taken into consideration. In the backdrop of these issues, Congress is constrained to take a decision not to attend the foundation laying ceremony on October 22, 2015″ they said.

Congress leaders also took objection to the extending the borders of CRDA indiscriminately with an eye on the real estate business. ” Congress also take strong objection to the way the people’s money being splurged on the ceremony. There is no transparency in whole affair,” they alleged.
Sailajanath and other leaders also opposed the leasing out of lands which were taken away from farmers to foreign companies for 99 years. “The chief minister is behaving like there is no Andhra Pradesh outside Amaravati and has become totally blind to the problems of Rayalaseema and north coastal Andhra. So, Congress party thinks, these circumstance are not favorable for the party’ s participation,” they said.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

“Full-size capital will be ready in 10 yrs “

Telugu360
-
0
“Full-size capital will be ready in 10 yrs “

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is hopeful that construction of the new capital in its entirety will be completed in 10 years. Naidu said he had no doubt about success of the new capital. “People of this region are endowed with remarkable creativity and entrepreneurial skills. The plan is to complete the project in 20 years. But, with the support your are extending I am hopeful that it will be carried out in a next in 10 years,” he said participating in the inaugural of ‘Capital Cinemas’, a seven-screen multiplex in Trendset Mall near Benz Circle, Vijayawaada.

Stating that creating entertainment avenues was as important as providing employment to local people, the chief minister said besides modern cinema theatres, Vijayawada would also house five and six-star hotels. Union Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu said a capital does not mean only concrete buildings, good roads, Secretariat, Assembly or bungalows of the Chief Minister, Governor and Ministers; It should have life. “Life means education, entertainment, academic activity, employment and enhanced medical facilities,” he said. The union minister said Vijayawada city had always been a hub of literature and the nerve centre of political activity.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Naidu invites KCR to Amaravati ceremony

Telugu360
-
0
Naidu invites KCR to Amaravati ceremony

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday extended Amaravati invitation to his Telangana counterpart K Chadranasekhar Rao.

Naidu, after arriving from Tirupati, reached the camp office of T-chief minister Rao in Begumpet accompanied by the Telangana TDP president L Ramana and T- Assembly floor leader E Dayakar Rao.
Naidu was received at the camp office by deputy chief minister Md Ali, power minister Jagadishwar Reddy. Handing over the invite to the T-Chief Minister , Naidu requested him to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony at Amaravati on October 22, along with his family members, wife, son KTR and daughter Kavita.
IMG-20151018-WA0008

Both leaders met after a long gap and lot of political differences in the past one year. But, the occasion of Amaravati construction compelled Naidu bury hatchet and drive down the Begumpet camp office of T-Chief minister.
I may be recalled that at the first meeting in Raj Bhavan after the bifurcation of state, KCR suggested Naidu to build the capital in the river front lands Krishna as river side capital is auspicious for the state.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Amaravati dissent amplifies in R’Seema

Telugu360
-
0
Amaravati dissent amplifies in R’Seema

While the arrangements for the spectacular  foundation stone laying ceremony for Amaravati  are going on at breakneck speed,  Rayalaseema water rights organization, Kundu Nadi Porata samti, Rayalaseem Vari Vutpattidarulu Sangham, several studens organizations  gave a call for the boycott of Amravarati ceremony, protesting wresting of capital from Rayalaseema. In a press conference in Nandyal, Kurnool district, leaders of these organizations urged the people’s representatives of region’s political parties to boycott the foundation laying ceremony as it amounts to the economic, political and cultural hegemony of Andhra region over backward Rayalaseem .  Bojja Dasarathrami Reddy ( Rayalaseema water rights), Ramachandra Reddy (Vari Vutpattidarula Sangam), Sudhakar Rao (Kundu Nadi Porata Samiti) urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to attend the ceremony in  view of the controversial nature of the Amaravati project and wide spread opposition to the location of the city amid fertile lands.  After the press conference Bojja Dasarathrami Reddy spoke to ‘telugu360.c0m’ from Nandyal.

Excerpts

Q:Is it fair to boycott a function which is meant to construct a prestigious capital city for the state of Andhra Pradesh?

Bojja: We don’t consider Amaravati  a prestigious project, given the way the place was decided, designed, and implemented. What happened on June 2, 2014 was the restoration  1953 Andhra state. At that time Kurnool was the capital. Kurnool was chosen because Coastal region was developed and rich. So, after a long deliberation they located capital at Kurnool and High Court at Guntur. Now, Kurnool should have been restored as the capital. Amaravati capital  is violates the  Sri Bagh pact, which was signed by Andhra, Rayalaseema leader sas a condition to come out of Madras state. Capital is our right. If you violate this you will have face consequences.

Q:Now that capital construction reached a point of no return,  why don’t you demand a compensatory package in lieu of Capital?

Bojja: Not at all possible. Capital location was a unilateral decision by TDP chief minister Naidu for political reasons. CM is constructing it as if is TDP office. He decided the location of the capital on his own. Now, to gain sanctity for his act of sacrilege he is taking our ‘soil and water’ to be mixed with illegal capital.  He will later say the capital has the approval of all regions, see, their soil and water is also mixed here. It is nothing rubbing salt to the wound.  There are many  other important issues that are compelling to us to boycott the ceremony

Q: What are the other issues?

Bojja: What is happening in Srisailam project? The water level should be maintained at 854 ft. But citing a old GO,  water is released affecting the storage of reservoir which in turn will make water unavailable for Rayalaseema. There is  about 132 TMC water available in Nagarjunasagar. He is not touching this. Are you not deliberately denying water to Rayalaseema by this. I can cite a hundred such anti-Rayalaseema, pro-Andhra decisions of chief minister Naidu.  So, a compromise is not possible.  There is no compensation for the loss of capital.

Q: What is the solution and how to avoid confrontation between two regions?

Bojja: We are not for confrontation. We want capital to be  located in Kurnool. I don’t know the shape the demand would take  in future. We are observing October 22, 2015 as ‘black day’.

We are also requesting the PM to see the reason in our demand and the arguments of many more intellectual in the location of capital right from Sivaramkrishnan. We are urging  Prime Minister to set up a committee to study the controversy surrounding Amaaravati before attending the foundation stone laying ceremony. Our request to him is that it is not proper for PM to attend the ceremony on October 22.

 

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

CM launches ” My Amaravati, My Brick”

Telugu360
-
1
CM launches ” My Amaravati, My Brick”

Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu today inaugurated the ‘payment gateway’ for the Amaravti capital city. Chief minister Naidu, whose plan to is make capital building a participatory project, has designed the ” Amaravati Brick’. He wants every Telugu man to become a partner in the construction of Amaravati by donating at least a brick or the money worth the brick. Those who want to donate a brick can donate the money worth the brick online through the payment gateway. In a review meeting held with Amaravati foundation laying ceremony management committee, the chief minister inaugurated the Amaravati Brick and payment gateway today. He named the program as ” My Amaravati, My Brick”.

In the system, donors can buy a brick by paying Rs 10 and get their name registered on it. The names of the brick donors will remain permanently in the data base of CRDA. All the donors will receive a receipt from the chief minister with his signature. The details are available at http://amaravati.gov.in/.

The campaign received tremendous response. According chief minister’s office, Srinivas Valluri purchased 108 bricks while the inauguration program was still going on. Similarly, CRDA employees purchased 108 bricks each and remitted a day’s salary Rs 5,22,000 towards price of the bricks.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Amaravati’s itinerary comes to final stage

Telugu360
-
0
Amaravati’s itinerary comes to final stage

The Andhra Pradesh government is giving its final draft to all the arrangements for laying of foundation stone ceremony of new capital Amaravati. The event is going to be a grand affair with different cultural programmes, huge rituals to be performed in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and other national and international personalities.

The AP chief minister Chandrababu Naidu who is monitoring all the arrangements by himself has held a meeting with CRDA officials on Tuesday evening. During this meeting, it was decided that in all there will be three stages which includes one main stage which is accommodated to only 15 members including the PM, the chief minister and few VVIPs.

The second stage will be occupied by foreign ambassadors, lawyers, industrialists and few other celebrities. While the last stage will be accomadated to MPs, MLAs and MLCs. Supreme court chief justice and High court chief justice will be gracing this historical event. Popular actor and dubbing artist Sai Kumar will be hosting this programme. Cultural and folk artists including Drums Sivamani and Kuchibotla Anand will be performing on the occasion.

A massive set for displaying Purna Kalasas carrying mud and water will also be erected.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Now wisdom dawned on CM Naidu at last !

Jinka Nagaraju
-
0
Now wisdom dawned on CM Naidu at last !

Though not known how it happened, wisdom seems to have dawned upon chief minister Chandrababu Naidu. He backtracked on his decision to make the Amaravati capital foundation stone laying ceremony a world class extravaganza. The reason intelligence source are said to have advised Naidu that spending too much tax-payers’ money on capital project would send wrong signal to PM Modi on October 22, at a time when state is moving heaven and earth to get more funds for capital. And there has been all-round criticism of the extravaganza.

Following this the CM is said to have instructed the CRDA officials to cancel the contract given to the Whizcraft event managers. It is yet not known how much compensation has been paid to the company. According to rough estimate the total cost of the foundation stone laying ceremony- from the “Mana matti…” to foundation puja is crossing Rs 50 crore, including the proposed cost of the event by Whizcraft. That government money, that is collected from the 5 crore people of Andhra Pradesh, is being spent as if it is one’s’ own money to satisfy one’s whims and fancies, has been going around for quite some time. A section of state BJP leadership also is said to have carried word about the wastage of money being spent on foundation stone laying ceremony, which PM Modi will part of, to the party president Amit Shah last week.

Sensing that it would not be good to give the PM an opportunity to think that AP government was splurging money, Naidu reportedly decided to cut the scale of celebration to the governmental level. ” Spending so much money on an hour’s function will not fail to attract the attention of the vigilant Prime Minister. It would affect the state efforts to gain more funds from the centre. Already there has been an impression in PMO and BJP leadership that whatever centre gives would be diverted to the capital construction,”a senior BJP leader, who recently met Amit Shah, told telugu360.com this morning.

Official sources, however, talked of negative fallout of such a massive spending by state government on the lines of a marriage function by a rich politicians.”Intelligence sources appear to have informed Naidu that the spectacular function and huge spending at a time when farmers are committing suicides in scores everyday would not augur well for the state. People interpret it in negative way,” said official sources.Finally, scared of costly political fallout Naidu is said to have asked officials to organize the function involving official agencies like department of culture etc.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Green Tribunal Order on Amaravati Lands

Telugu360
-
0
Green Tribunal Order on Amaravati Lands

NGT-Capital-11

NGT-Capital-12

NGT-Capital-13

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Colorful beginning of “Mana Amaravati” in Puttaparthy

Telugu360
-
0
Colorful beginning of “Mana Amaravati” in Puttaparthy

As per the call given by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the program, ” Mana Mati, Mana niiru and Mana Amaravati ” began this morning all across the state. The program has been organized in festive mood in Puttaparthy Anantapuramu district. State IT and Information minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy participated in the ceremony meant to collect the specimen soil and water from a sacred place in the villages to be sent to capital region by October 19. The water and soil has been collected from Puttaparthy in an urn amid prayers. Which will be escorted to the constituency with traditional uregimpu (procession).
The soil and water thus collected will be mixed with the soil and water at Amaravati to make Puttaparthy part of Amaravati capital. The soil and water collection from 16000 habitations will go on till October 15.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

This is how all roads lead to Amaravati

Telugu360
-
0
This is how all roads lead to Amaravati

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu today finalized the program for ” People’s capital and Amaravati Construction resolve” . The program, meant to create Amaravati euphoria in Andhra Pradesh begins from Tuesday with celebration of “Our Soil, Our Water and Our Amaravati”. The program will go on till 15.10.2015.

  • 13th, 14th and 15th October – Collect Matti (soil) in cloth bags    and clean water in copper kalasams village wise/ Municipal ward wise and keep in GP/Municipal ward Office.

During the period specimen soil and water will be collected from the anthills and local streams or wells, whichever the local people believe as sacred ,in Kalasham (ritual urn). All these will paraded around the city or town or village amid all-religion prayers. The message is get local people’s blessings to the capital project.

On October 17, all these kalashalu containing specimen soil and water will shifted to constituency centres. All-religion prayers will be conducted once again. On October 18, designated people will carry the sacred soil and water to capital Amaravati.

*October 17: Soil bags and Kalasams to be taken in colourful processions so as to reach Assembly constituency headquarter towns in a convoy.

*October 18:Start for Amaravati,  with a banner Mana Rajadhani Amaravati –Mana Matti – Mana Neeru

 

All vehicles from all constituency Headquarters  will join at District Headquarters or at District  border and move together on  October 18 or 19  morning (as per the distance) and reach Nagarjuna University  in a convoy by 5 PM on  October 19.

 

On October 20 and October 21, prayers will be performed for these Kalashalu and later all these sacred urns will be shifted to the exact place where Prime Minister Narendramodi is going to lay the foundation stone. In the meantime, in Krishna Guntur districts, an Amaravati Resolve torch rally will be organized. The CM flag will off the convoy to Amaravati. Government is going to designate officials to oversee all the rituals in villages, towns and constituencies across the state. The entire program will be videographed and preserved for posterity.

  • On October 21, the soil and water is mixed with holy waters from all major rivers of India and kept at a place to be used during Foundation Laying Ceremony and also later for the construction of various public buildings in Amaravati.

 

On October 18, in Municipal towns and major gram panchayats 2K run and 5K run will be organized to express solidarity to the construction of Amravati capital construction project. Similarly torch rallies will be conducted in every village. Every Village will send a Sankalpa Patram along with water and soil to Amaravati. About 160 temples, 50 churches and 50 masjids have been identified to perform special pujas to propitiate gods to ward off the evil spirits coming in the way of construction of Amaravati.

Three highways have been identified in the state to carrying the soil -water urns to the capital city. The cavalcades carrying the sacred kalasham will ultimately join these highway and march towards Amaravati. It should be planned in such a way that every vehicle carrying the kalasham reached the capital city by October 19.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Former Chandigarh administrator cautions PM on Amaravati

Telugu360
-
0
Former Chandigarh administrator cautions PM on Amaravati

[intro]Retired IAS and former Administrator of Chandigarh MG Devasahayam also sent an email to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office to caution the PM that his visit to Amravati would be amounting to an act against the thousands of small and marginal farmers, whose livelihood is being trampled upon by the capital project. Dr Devasahayam headed a fact finding committee set up by National Alliance for People’s Movements to study the suitability of the Amaravati area to build a capital city. He says capital city is going to be a Real Estate El dorado of Andrha Pradesh. Following is the edited version of the letter.[/intro]

Dear Mr Misra,

Having led the National Alliance of People’s Movement appointed Fact Finding Mission I have gone into the various aspects of the Andhra Pradesh Capital-City project coming up in Amravati and have fair amount of Information on this. Besides, having been associated with the Chandigarh Capital Project as the Deputy Commissioner cum Estate Officer of the City and Union Territory, I have fair knowledge as to how capital-cities are planned, funded and developed.

The AP state capital in Amravati on which work is proceeding at breakneck speed is in total violation of constitutional provisions, AP Reorganisation Act, Land Acquisition Act-2013 and Environmental Protection Act and Rules made thereunder. Though Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) is the project-proponent in paper, and Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) the project-patron, the project is actually being driven by powerful and moneyed Real Estate operators from Singapore, Hyderabad, AP and Delhi. This project is extremely detrimental to Andhra Pradesh’s agricultural systems, India’s food security and environmental sustainability.

2

A brief recap. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014 was enacted by Parliament as per provisions of Article 2, 3 and 4 of the Constitution of India. Under Section 6 of said Act the Central Govt. constituted a Committee headed by late K.C. Sivaramakrishnan, to study various alternatives regarding the New Capital for the successor State of Andhra Pradesh and make appropriate recommendation. ToR for the said Committee inter alia includes following:-

· Least possible dislocation to existing agriculture systems as well as ensure minimum resettlement of people and their habitations.
· Preservation of local ecology and natural features including water bodies.
· Vulnerability assessment from natural disasters like floods, cyclones and earthquakes.
· Assess the scope for minimising the cost of construction and acquisition of land.

Committee did not favor a green-field capital-city for AP at this stage and opined that if the GoAP wants to pursue this option, it has to carry out a careful search for locations where suitably large parcels of government land may be available. Committee after considering all the aspects, found the Vijayavada – Guntur – Tenali – Mangalegiri (VGTM) Region unsuitable for setting up state Capital.

Totally ignoring the Committee Report without assigning any reason, GoAP enacted the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Act, 2014 (CRDA Act) on 30thDec. 2014 and declared VGTM as Capital city and Capital Region Area. This legislation does not have the assent of President of India and therefore untenable being in conflict with Central Acts.

3

To build this capital-city about 35000 acres of land is being coercively ‘pooled’. This area comprises of very fertile agricultural lands, situated in the Krishna Delta and is within the flood affected and seismic Zone i.e. highly susceptible/vulnerable to Natural Calamities like, Flood, Earthquake and Cyclone. GoAP has not complied with even the preliminary requirements for a large capital-city project such as concept paper, population projection, Social Impact Assessment, land survey & requirement study, feasibility study, Environmental Impact Assessment, Detailed Project Report, Master Planning etc. All that has been done is some farcical documentation to get a hurriedly ‘in-principle’ approval from the state environment authorities who are under the administrative control of the project-patron.

It is pertinent here to point out that in Chandigarh which is the most acclaimed capital area in India, only 9000 acres were taken in Phase 1, and 6000 acres in Phase 2, making a total of 15000 acres. These two phases of the city now with a population of 1.2 million has taken more than 60 years for implementation. Chandigarh is low-rise-low-density city with a high percentage of open space in the form of vistas, avenues, gardens, valleys, lakes etc. As against this AP Capital is being planned as high-rise-high-intensity and such a city for a million plus population in a century or so could be built in about 5000 to 6000 acres. Grabbing 35000 acres is nothing but blatant real-estate venture.

GoAP also does not have the funds to carry out even a fraction of the massive capital-city project estimated to cost over Rs. 300,000 crores. Such a huge expenditure cannot be incurred by the State government without adversely affecting budgetary allocations in the State.

4

Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) as claimed by GoAP is a sleight-of-hand. In actual fact in order to rush things and coerce farmers into surrendering the land GoAP on 14 May 2015 issued Notification for coercive acquisition of land major tracts of which are irrigated multi-crop land acquisition of which is specifically prohibited under Section 10 of LARR Act, 2013. Also capital-city project does not come under the definition of ‘public purpose’ provided in Section 2 of the LARR Act. What is alarming, this coercively acquired/pooled without paying any compensation to the farmers are being handed over to private agencies on a 99-year lease for commercial exploitation [GOMs No 110 dated 2-5-2015 by GoAP Municipal Adinistration & Urban Development Dept]. It was for this purpose that Section 54 of the CRDA Act provides for ‘Developer Entities’ which are private real estate developers.

AP capital-city project area has two kinds of villages–one with irrigated multi-crop land within 2 km from the river and another with mostly rain fed land. All the villages have a vibrant agricultural economy of Rs.1000 crores per year, with complete linkages from farm to market, and large sections of people deriving livelihoods–including land owners, sharecroppers, tenant farmers and agricultural workers. This is an area of the best soil and climatic conditions, and the richest diversity of more than 120 crops. More than 1 lakh working persons are earning secure livelihood from agriculture in these villages, including the residents and external labour.

The government figures show that 32,153 persons in these villages are mainly dependent on agricultural labour whereas 10,556 persons are mainly dependent on cultivating their land. About 80% of the people involved in agriculture in these villages are landless or marginal farmers who are dependent on agricultural labour and tenancy. There is absolutely no compensation or safeguards being included by the government for these people who will be losing their secure livelihoods.

Master Plan for the capital City is being prepared by a foreign entity in utter secrecy without any consultation process with the stake holders and without taking into consideration the environmental, ecological, social, economic and other ground realities. Prime Minister has been invited to lay the foundation stone on 22 October 2015for a massive capital-city project for which even the basic documentation for land title is not really available with CRDA, the project-proponent. And as per media reports National Green Tribunal on Saturday directed CRDA not to take up any construction-related activity for the new capital-city until the necessary environmental clearances are acquired. NGT also has reportedly restrained the project-proponent from taking up any work, including levelling of the grounds.

Under the circumstances it would be extremely embarrassing for the PM and Government of India to participate in the 22 October function at ‘Amravati’ and lay the foundation stone for a non-existent but extremely hyped ‘project’. It could also be perceived as an act against thousands of small/marginal farmers and agricultural labour whose livelihood would be sacrificed at the altar of this massive, environment-killing Real Estate El dorado which Andhra Pradesh do not require.

From,
M.G.Devasahayam IAS (Retd),
103, Ceebros Bayview, 4th Seaward Road,
Valmikinagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai – 600041
Email: deva1940@gmail.com ; Mobile: 09940174446

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Naidu gives new Mantra to AP people

Telugu360
-
0
Naidu gives new Mantra to AP people

Chief minister Chandrababau Naidu has given new chant for Telugu people of successor state of Andhra Pradesh: ” Mana Amaravati” (Our Amaravati). The objective of the slogan is to transform ” Amaravati ” a magical word that should reverberate in very town, village and house in Andhra Pradesh. He wants everyone chant Amaravati starting from tomorrow until the foundation stone is laid on October 22, 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at UdhandaRayunipalem on the banks of River Krishna in Guntur district.

Naidu called upon the party all leaders at all levels in the organization structure to participate in the all programs connected to Amaravati Sankustapanana ceremony commencing from tomorrow. Naidu addressed a teleconference with MLA, MLC, and MPs of the party this morning . He asked them to participate in 10K and 5K runs being organized on October 18 to create Amaravati awareness among the people and about the importance developing Amaravati as world-class capital. These runs are part of the campaign to persuade people to participate in the capital construction in way or the other. He was very particular about the participation of MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other leaders of the party.
He briefed them about the ‘Mana matti- Mana neeru – Mana Amaravathi’ and asked then ensure that party leaders, workers, sympathizers participated in the program in a big way.

On the other side, despite green tribunal directive not take up ground leveling activities before getting environmental clearance for the capital construction project, the civil works for the foundation stone laying ceremony are in full swing. The main theme of the event is ‘Sunrise State,’ (opposition criticizing this as ‘son-rise state) and the main stage would have a huge digital screen showing the sun rising on the horizon. Rising sun is the line for investment promotion campaign of Andhra Pradesh. The event manager, Mumbai-based Wizcraft Event Managers , which gave a presentation of the theme in the cabinet meeting, is meticulously putting the theme of chief minister Naidu to practice as per Vastu. A representative of CRDA told telugu360.com that Vastu was being followed at every step- raising the stage, seating arrangement, fixing the location of foundation laying ceremony, facing of the state, galleries, in-gates and out-gates of the venue.

The erection of the main stage began with workers mounting steel poles on the ground. The huge dais overlooking the Krishna river is being arranged in North Eastern direction to face the Krishna river.”River is the governing force for us. The capitals heart lies in the river,” the CRDA sources said. The 200-acrea area chosen for performing Puja for laying foundation stone, has been taken over by the police to take care of the security plan commensurate with the expected gathering.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

EAS Sarma advises PM not to visit Amaravati

Telugu360
-
0
EAS Sarma advises PM not to visit Amaravati

India’s one of the most respected IAS officers Dr EAS Sarma (rtd) wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to visit Andhra Pradesh to lay foundation stone for the proposed capital city, Amaravati, on October 22,2015, which in his view will benefit realtors more rather than people of the state. Dr Sarma wrote a letter to Prime Minister’s office on Sunday putting forth the reasons why the PM should not visit Andhra Pradesh. Participation in the foundation stone laying ceremony amounts to endorsement of the politically and economically unwise decision to construct the capital  on the banks or River Krishna, unmindful of the recommendations of experts.

To

Shri Nripendra Misra
Principal Secretary to PM
PMO
N.Delhi

Dear Shri Misra,

Subject:- AP CM’s invitation to the PM to inaugurarate the new capital city near Amaravathi in Guntur area- Objections

I understand that, on an invitation extended by the AP CM, the Prime Minister (PM) has agreed to lay the foundation stone for the State’s new capital city near Amaravati on October 22nd. I feel that the PMO should think twice before going ahead with the inauguration.

I have listed my concerns below.

1. In pursuance of Section 6 of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, the Union Home Ministry had constituted a committee under late Shri Sivaramakrishnan to study the altrnatives for locating the AP capital city and specifically asked that Committee to keep in view the need to cause “the least possible dislocation to existing agriculture systems as well as ensure minimum resettlement of people and their habitations”, to ensure “preservation of local ecology and natural features including water bodies”, make a “vulnerability assessment for natural disasters like floods, cyclones and earthquakes” and “assess the scope for minimising the cost of construction and acquisition of land”. The Sivaramakrishnan Committee had submitted a comprehensive report accordingly but the State government ignored that report in defiance of the Act and unilaterally decided on locating the capital in Vijayawada-Guntur region, without any consultation wihe the people.

2. The capital city project, as being thought of by Shri Chandrababu Naidu, will disrupt agriculture over large stretches of fertile land, adversely affect the lives of lakhs of farmers, agricultural workers, artisans and agri-based economy, like never before. The project is yet to be subject to a statutory environment impact appraisal.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), in an interim order dated 10-10-2015, appears have expressed concern at the fact that the State authorities are yet to survey the area and assess its agricultural resources and directed them not to proceed with any activity that is likely to disturb agriculture and the local environment. It is ironic that the Chief Minister is more eager to invite foreign dignataries to the inaugural function than trying to find out the value of the agricultural resources and human capital that will be foregone as a result of the project.
Against this background, it will be highly imprudent on the part of the PM to agree to affix his stamp of approval for the project by laying the foundation stone, as such an act is likely to make a mockery of the law of the land and its statutory institutions, especially at a time when India is pronouncing to the world its resolve to join hands in poptecting the environment.

3. There is a simmering discontent among the people of north AP and Rayalaseema at the huge, extravagent public expenditure being incurred by the State on its grandiose capital city project. Large stretches of land in that area, subject to inundation, may have be raised in level and a new barrage may have to be constructed accross River Krishna to provide water for the capital, involving a huge expense that will syphon off scarce budgetary resources from north AP and Rayalseema districts to benefit the region of the capital city.
Such a large expenditure on a single project to benefit a single region would also starve important development sectors in the State such as public health, education, social welfare and so on. Should the PM endorse this?

4. The State is already groaning under a huge overdraft and is finding it difficult to pay the salaries of its employees and meet the development commitments. The mind-boggling financial commitments being made on the capital city will not only affect the present government but also the future governments to come.

5. I was associated at the Centre with the formation of Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal States and the commitments made for their new capital cities. In these days of advanced digitial, satellite comunication systems, to concentrate construction activity for a large capital city in one place is uneconomical. The only beneficiaries of the project would be the real estate developers! Many of us fell that, had the AP CM consulted the people of the State, he would have been wiser in taking a decision on the formation of the capital.

As a person resident at Visakhapatnam and familiar with the finances of the Centre and the States, I thought that I should bring these aspects to the notice of Shri Narendra Modi so that he may take a prudent decision on whether to go ahead with the inauguration or defer it.

I request you to show this letter to Shri Narendra Modi in view of the implications I have pointed out.

Regards,

Yours sincerely,

E A S Sarma
Former Secretary to GOI
Visakhapatnam
11-10-2015

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

NGT asks state to stop land leveling at Amaravati

Telugu360
-
0
NGT asks state to stop land leveling at Amaravati

National Green Tribunal (NGT) today issued orders to the State government to stop all land development works related to the construction of the new capital, Amaravati, till the State gets environmental clearances for the capital project. It also sought a report from the centre and state on the lands facing possible submergence during the flood season in river Krishna.

Andhra Pradesh government is however not so perturbed by the orders. According to sources in the government, the environmental clearance has already been given to the capital project. ” Once we get the copy of the order, the NGT order would become infractuous,” a senior official from CRDA told Telugu360.com late evening.

Meanwhile, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu also reacted on the NGT orders. He said the orders would not affect the State government’s preparations for laying the foundation stone on October 22. Prime Minister Modi is the chief guest of the program. “The tribunal has issued notice to us seeking our version. We will respond appropriately. We will get all environmental clearances for Amaravati development,” the CM told media after the cabinet meeting this evening.

The NGT was hearing a petition filed by Pandalaneni Srimannarayana of Vijayawada, who raised objection that the new capital was being constructed on multi-crop lands and some of lands were flood-prone. The bench, comprising Justice U D Salvi and Justice Ranjan Chatterjee of the NGT, reminded petitioner’s advocate that AP government had earlier assured the tribunal that it would not take up any constructions, until it gets all required clearances.

The petitioner’s counsel Sanjay,however, contended that the government was going ahead with the works and had already held groundbreaking ceremony at the sight,and preparations for foundation stone laying ceremony to be held on October 22 were afoot. He even presented to the tribunal photographs in support of his claim. The bench asked the AP government counsel, A K Ganguly, whether wetlands and other areas which might face floods during monsoon had been identified in the new capital region.

Then, the tribunal ordered that no land development be taken up at the site till it was cleared from environmental perspective . The Bench also directed the Centre and AP governments to file their replies with regard to the total extent of wetland and other lands that could be flooded during monsoons in the capital region, by November 5, when the case posted for next hearing.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

PM to lay Amaravati foundation at 12.35 pm

Telugu360
-
0
PM to lay Amaravati foundation at 12.35 pm

Now it is official that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the Andhra Pradesh government prestigious event, for laying foundation stone for new capital Amaravati. The PMO has finalized his day long tour to AP. According to a statement released by PMO, Modi will reach Gannavaram airport near Vijayawada by a special aircraft at 11.45 am. He will then leave for Uddandarayunipalem in Thullur mandal of Guntur district to participate in the foundation stone laying ceremony.

The CM Chandrababu Naidu, joint Governor of AP and Telanagana ESL Narasimhan and other cabinet ministers will receive Modi at the airport. They will travel to road and reach the venue by 12.35 pm. and participate in the rituals amidst vedic chants.

Later Modi along with the other chief guests will witness cultural programmes and special documentary film on Amaravati. Naidu has invited prime ministers of Singapore and Japan for the ceremony. However, senior officials from the two countries are expected to attend. A film on Amaravati will be screened at the ceremony, which will also witness cultural programmes.

The PM will also launch an e-brick portal to receive donations for the construction of the state capital. The state government has already appealed to people, especially Telugus living abroad, to make contributions. Later Modi will address the gathering and he is also scheduled to felicitate the farmers who have donated lands to capital city. Soon after the ceremony, Modi will return to Gannavaram airport at 3.05 pm. and from there will fly to Tirupati. He will land at Renigunta airport at 4 m. and will reach the temple town by 5.25 pm

The prime minister will have ‘darshan’ at Tirumala temple before returning to Delhi at 7.30 pm

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Naidu wants Amaravati a sacred destination

Telugu360
-
0
Naidu wants Amaravati a sacred destination

Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, who has inherited three divergent cultural geographies in the form of successor state of Andhra Pradesh, is struggling a lot to construct a single culture identity for the state of Andhra Pradesh. Unlike Telangana, which is culturally a single unit at macro level, Naidu’s Andhra Pradesh is composed of three regions Rayalaseema, Northa coastal Andhra, and core Andhra (circar ) region, which are culturally, economically and socially poles apart. While the first two are backward regions, the third, Andhra area, is a fertile, money rich delta region. Location of capital in the fertile region has created irreversible chasm between the backward and advanced Andhra regions. So, sensing trouble in future, Naidu is planning to construct a single, catch-all cultural identity, to nip the resentment in the bud. His struggle is evident in the way the foundation stone laying ceremony is being organized as a culture festival.

Noted sculptor Rajiv Sethi is designing a grand memorial at Amaravati, the upcoming capital city, in an extent of 200 acres, which according to chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, will become a major tourist spot in the city. It will have a big tourist gallery and a museum depicting the theme of Amaravati city through the ages. To make the memorial sacred spot, the water gathered from all the rivers across the country , will be used in the construction of the memorial. On the eve of foundation laying ceremony, prayer will be conducted 150 temples, 50 churches and 50 masjids all over Andhra Pradesh. The chief minister instructed the official to collect the letters containing the pledge that they are committed to build the temple from the people from 16000 villages in the states. All these letters will be preserved in a time capsule. A Jyothi( torch) symbolising the Amravati fulfilment should be brought from every mandal to Amaravati. CRDA will bring about the booklets with information about the greatness of site of capital Amaravati and the importance of building a world-class capital and ensure they reached every student in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The booklet carry the message,” centre of world’s investments, future destination of youth”. The cabinet,which is meeting on Saturday, will decide the various programs be conducted during the official festival program from October 13 to October 21. Chief minister also instructed the official to organize the foundation stone laying ceremony in such a spectacular way that it should go down in the history of Andhra Pradesh as turning point.

These are instructions chief minister issues to collectors, other district officials along with state officials in a video conference he addressed from his camp office in Vijayawada. The state government has already declared the October 13-21 official celebration. Though not region specific festivals, Sankranti and Dasara had been celebrated as state festival last year. The Kodandarama temple in Ontimitta, Kadapa, had become the Bhadrachalam of Andhra Pradesh. Naidu has launched a tradition of the celebrating Srirama Navami festival this year.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

1...15161718Page 16 of 18

TRENDING

Latest

css.php
[X] Close
[X] Close