Don't want to repeat Hyderabad example by concentrating development in single region: Buggana
The Sri Krishna committee submitted its report after an extensive tour of the state and clearly stated that the concentration of wealth in one region resulted in regional imbalances.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 22 Nov 2021 2:40 PM GMT
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh finance minister Buggana Rajendranath who tabled the Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of all Regions Repeal Bill 2021 said the government intended to bring balanced regional development in the state and will have a relook after due considerations.
Summing up the events and discussions that went into decentralization of development, the minister said that the government did not want to repeat the Hyderabad example by concentrating development in a single region which is against the recommendations made by both Sri Krishna and Sivaramakrishnan committee reports. The Sri Krishna committee submitted its report after an extensive tour of the state and clearly stated that the concentration of wealth in one region resulted in regional imbalances.
He said a majority of the Central government institutions like BHEL, ECIL, and HAL have been established in Hyderabad which became engines of development resulting in the growth of ancillary units in the private sector and followed by increased revenue of that particular city. However, states like Uttar Pradesh established BHEL in Haridwar, Tamil Nadu took it to Trichy, and decentralized such institutions to tier-2 and tier-3 cities for balanced growth.
The minister said the previous TDP government had also repeated the same mistake in 2014 and without considering recommendations of the committee reports it had initiated to build a capital in an area of 7,500 sq. km while other state capitals like Mumbai is just 4,300 sq. km.
He said the government had constituted an expert committee with professionals, followed by Boston consulting group and then a high power committee, to discuss in detail keeping in view the state's future and finances. Based on their recommendations and duly considering the earlier reports along with the Sri Bagh pact, the government proposed to decentralize by moving the executive body to Visakhapatnam, High Court to Kurnool and Legislature to Amaravati. Since Vizag is already a city with great connectivity and other basic infra facilities, a little push can take it to top standards that can compete with other capital cities, he said.
He traced the history of Andhra since it separated from Madras in 1953 and merged with Telangana region in 1956. He talked about the sub-regional aspirations that led to the bifurcation of the two Telugu states with the cause being the concentration of development in the then capital Hyderabad city while ignoring other places.
