Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana has stated that the construction of Andhra Pradesh's capital city, Amaravati, would have been halfway finished by now if not for the mismanagement and deliberate delays caused by the previous state government. He made these remarks during a visit to Endray village in Amaravati mandal on Thursday.
Farmers' Support Key For New Phase Of Land Pooling
Accompanied by MLA Bhashyam Praveen, Minister Narayana toured the area as part of preparations for the second phase of the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS). After offering prayers at a local temple, he held discussions with farmers from four revenue villages. The state government plans to acquire approximately 16,500 acres under LPS Phase-II from seven villages located near the capital city area.
Farmers reportedly expressed their readiness to participate in the land pooling initiative even before the official notification is issued. Appreciating their cooperation, Narayana emphasized that the land pooling method prioritizes farmer welfare, unlike traditional land acquisition which could lead to financial losses for them. He stressed that the entire development of Amaravati is dependent on farmer participation and assured them that any concerns could be brought directly to him for resolution.
Recalling Past Success And Alleged Sabotage
Minister Narayana recalled the success of the first phase of land pooling, during which farmers voluntarily contributed 34,000 acres within just 58 days. He alleged that this rapid progress was deliberately stalled by the previous YSRCP government. According to Narayana, the previous administration withheld payments to contractors and created numerous legal hurdles, which resulted in significant delays for the entire capital project.
"If these disruptions had not occurred, half of the capital construction would be complete," Narayana remarked, placing the blame squarely on the past regime for the current state of development.
Vision For A World-Class Capital And Rapid Development
Narayana outlined the grand vision for Amaravati, as directed by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, which is to develop it into one of the world's top five capital cities. The plans include establishing smart industries, building an international sports city capable of hosting events like the Olympics, and significantly improving connectivity through new railway lines, a station, and an airport. These projects are aimed at boosting economic growth and increasing land value in the region.
The minister noted that nearly 90% of farmers in the identified villages have already agreed to participate in the new phase of land pooling. The government intends to begin construction of the proposed sports city within a year and accelerate development works on plots allotted to farmers.
In a show of support during the meeting, a farmer named Namburi Balaram from Lingapuram voluntarily submitted the original documents of his 4-acre land to the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) in the presence of the minister and the MLA. Narayana thanked the farmers for their trust and appealed for their continued cooperation to ensure the success of the second phase of land pooling and the swift development of Amaravati.
