3 capital Bill: Never said Amaravati won't be capital, says Jagan

Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh Assembly session was off to a stormy start on Thursday with discussions on the three-capital Bill. Highlighting the Bill, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said, "I never said I wouldn't make Amaravati the capital, but I said that we will have two more capitals in Kurnool and Visakhapatnam. Decentralisation is the only way to development."

Speaking on the development of Amaravati, Jagan said, "These are real estate dramas by TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu who is provoking the people. Is this for the development of SC, ST, BC, OBC, or the state capital? No, it is for the development of the high-class people."

Asking why there was no Amma Vodi or housing schemes during Naidu's regime, Jagan criticised the TDP chief and his team. "The capital is where Naiud's benami lands are located. Even the pickles sold should be of their brands," he said.

Fight for three capitals

"One capital, Amaravati, is what we hear these days. But is it possible? I have no grudge against the people of Amaravati. Amaravati is not near Guntur or Vijayawada. The area needs basic infrastructure on 5,300 acres with Rs. 1.10 lakh crores which is what Mr. Naidu calculated," Jagan said. Asking what Mr. Naidu developed during his regime, Jagan said, "Chandrababu Naidu spent Rs. 5,675 crores in the last five years, adding to this he left Rs. 2,297 crores pending, to be cleared by the government. If such a person cheats by showing plans for development and escapes paying money, we have to file an IPC 420 case."

On the three-capital issue, the CM said, "It is a fact that 80% of our people depend on white ration cards. That is the situation in Andhra Pradesh. In such a case, it takes 100 years to invest Rs. 1 lakh crores for development. If I have money, I will develop the state but it's like chasing a dream."

He continued, "Our state has 3.96 crore acres of land, not 50,000 acres as Naidu claims. For Mr. Naidu, farmers are only those who have 35,000 acres of land but for me, every farmer under Rythu Bharosa is also part of the state's development schemes."

As per a GO issued by Mr. Naidu in 2019, 5,020 acres of land out of a total of 8,275 acres of land are available for commercial exploitation and infrastructure development projects. Referring to Mr. Naidu's claim that Rs. 1 lakh crore was required for the development of Amaravati, Jagan said that means the land rate will be around Rs. 20 crores per acre. "Will Mr. Naidu or Ramoji Rao or Radha Krishna or anyone from TDP buy land? How will the projects be taken up?" he asked.

Vizag as executive capital

According to Jagan, Visakhapatnam can be developed as the state's executive capital with Rs. 10,000 crores (10% from 1 lakh 10,000 crores). As the city already has the basic infrastructure, it needs little development. "It is not that I have extra affection for Vizag. It is a fact that Vizag is the biggest city in the state. Why can't we give it a little boost?" asked Jagan.

Development of Vijayawada

The CM questioned what Mr. Naidu had done for the development of Vijayawada. Why did he stop the projects during his regime? Is it that he did not want to develop Vijayawada or Mangalagiri? Is it because he has lands in Amaravati? he asked He highlighted the various projects undertaken for the development of Vijayawada, including developing a 30 km road from Chinnaoutapalli to Gollapudi.

Soon another bypass road of 45 km will come up in Vijayawada, Jagan said and added that Rs. 100 crores special grant was given to VMC. The Kanaka Durga flyover that was neglected for five years during the TDP regime was developed and a flyover was constructed near Benz circle, he added.

"These are the developments during our rule and more projects are underway. Also, 1,20,00 unemployed people have got jobs in our sachivalayam. There was no idea of a village volunteer system before. We deliver pensions to the doorsteps on the first of every month. This is decentralisation. Naidu, who says he has 40 years of experience, couldn't do these things," said Jagan, concluding the session.

4 Bills introduced

Four Bills were introduced in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on the opening day. Panchayat raj minister B. Mutyalanaidu introduced the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill 2022, while minister for road development D. Ramalingadeswara Rao tabled the Road Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2022. Agriculture minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy introduced the Andhra Pradesh Services Disciplinary Proceedings Tribunal Repeal Bill 2022 and tabled the AP Agriculture Produce and Livestock Markets (Amendment) Bill 2022.