Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu declared on Saturday that his government's development agenda would not be sidetracked by what he termed as misinformation and obstructionist tactics from political opponents. He made these remarks while addressing a public gathering at the Swachh Andhra-Swarna Andhra program in Tallapalem, located in the Anakapalli district.
Allegations of Misused Funds and False Propaganda
In a sharp critique, Naidu accused his rivals of squandering hundreds of crores of public money while failing to establish vital medical colleges. He pointedly referenced the controversy surrounding a Yoga Day event at Rushikonda, labelling the opposition's narrative as "false propaganda." The Chief Minister listed several grievances, alleging that opponents had filed legal cases against land allocations for IT companies, opposed constable appointments, and wrongly branded medical colleges built under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model as private institutions.
He issued a stern warning, stating that threats by the YSRCP to imprison individuals involved in constructing PPP-model medical colleges revealed a "demonic nature." Naidu contrasted these actions with his administration's accomplishments, which include positioning Visakhapatnam as a hub for Artificial Intelligence and data centres, promoting yoga, and transforming former marijuana cultivation areas into Araku forests.
He further claimed a clean slate for the coalition government, asserting there have been no scams, and accused previous rulers of wasting Rs 500 crore on the Rushikonda palace and an additional Rs 700 crore on survey stones.
Roadmap for a Swachh and Swarna Andhra
Earlier in the day, Naidu interacted with sanitation workers and inspected a compost manufacturing yard. He emphasized that the Swachh Andhra initiative was conceived not merely as a program but as a movement to transform public lifestyle. "By June 2026, AP should become a plastic-free state," he announced, adding that villages must embody cleanliness in both thought and action.
He praised sanitation workers as the "real soldiers" of the movement and assured steps to enhance their dignity and health security. Naidu stated that the previous administration had left a legacy of 86 lakh metric tonnes of waste and even imposed taxes on garbage, all of which has now been cleared.
To achieve the plastic-free goal, the government plans to utilize waste-to-energy plants, recycling units, and compost manufacturing. Naidu set clear deadlines:
- Clear all visible roadside garbage by January 26.
- Arrange waste collection from every household by February 15.
- Complete the separation of dry and wet waste by October 26.
The vision includes producing compost in 10 lakh village households, encouraging kitchen gardens, and completely eliminating plastic after October 2 next year. He noted that 25 Swachh Raths are operational, with another 100 to be added soon.
Anakapalli as a Future Industrial Powerhouse
Shifting focus to economic growth, Naidu outlined ambitious plans to develop Anakapalli district into a major industrial hub. He revealed that 24,843 acres across Rambilli, Pudi, Nakkapalli, Vallur, and Makavarapalem have been earmarked for industrial use. MSME parks are planned for Koduru, Parawada, and Achyutapuram.
Specific projects include a private industrial park on 93 acres in Nakkapalli and an allocation of 32 acres to ALEAP for a women's industrial park. The district, which houses the country's second-largest sugar market, will see promotions for Anakapalli sugar. Naidu also promised to complete all pending north Andhra irrigation projects within three years.
Highlighting broader investment prospects, he said Visakhapatnam's infrastructure is drawing global attention. He cited the signing of 610 MOUs worth Rs 13.26 lakh crore at a recent summit, with an additional Rs 8.29 lakh crore approved by the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB), promising 23 lakh jobs. Eleven of these MOUs are specifically for Anakapalli district.
Global giants like Google, Cognizant, and TCS have set up operations, and a massive 20 GW renewable energy project by NTPC Green Energy with an investment of Rs 1.85 lakh crore is in the pipeline. The Chief Minister concluded by stating that plans are underway to develop the state into three distinct, thriving regions.
