Brown or Green : Capital quest

 Express News Service
Hyderabad, March 12:
 For establishing new capital city for the residuary Andhra Pradesh - the moot question before the officials is that whether to have a "Brown Capital" or "Green Capital".
 The Brown Capital means developing capital in or around 5 to 10 km radius in the existing and developed city.
 The Green Capital means that to acquire 10,000 hectares to 20,000 hectares in outside the existing cities in Seemandhra and develop capital.
 However, the State sub-committee constituted for the "New Capital Issues", the committee will only assist the Central government committee which has to be constituted for identifying the new capital for residuary AP.
 The officials of the sub-committee of the State government spoke to the Union Ministry officials on Wednesday. "The Centre did not constitute any committee till date. As the officials are busy with the election work, the committee may be constituted only after the elections. As there is six months time after the Appointed Day", an officer dealing with "New Capital Issues" told Express.
 Official sources said that the Central government committee too would not decide the new capital for the residuary AP. "Identifying the new capital is a political decision. From which area the first Chief Minister of the residuary Andhra Pradesh hails is most important," the official sources said indicating that the probable Chief Minister would insist for his home town as new capital of AP. The Central government has to take political decision in establishing the new capital, the sources said.
 However, the officials added that they were ready for Brown or Green Capital. "In the olden days, the civilisation based around rivers. Now, we can lay pipelines and supply water within three months time to any location, if it is a Green Capital," an officer said.
If it was a Brown capital all the existing and developed cities right from Srikakulam to Nellore were suitable for new capital, the sources added. But, the road, rail and airport connectivity will be taken into consideration
  Sources also recalled that in the new capital of Uttarakhand, Collector Bungalow was used as Chief Minister's officer and polytechnic college was used as Secretariat.
 When establishing the new capital, the officials were also thinking on "concentrated capital" or "distributed capital". Concentrated capital means all the offices would be located in one area along with Secretariat. But, the distributed capital means that the High Court would be located in one city, the Secretariat in another city, Legislative Assembly in one city and the Heads of Departments in other cities.
   There were six proposals on locating new capital with Group of Ministers, according to Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh. The six locations included Amaravathi in Guntur district, Visakhapatnam and Kurnool.
   Though there is a demand for Kurnool city as new capital, the negative points for considering the Kurnool are that it is prone to frequent floods and flooding due to back waters of Srisailam Dam and shortage of drkinking water.
  If the Central government decides to go for Green Capital, there were three proposals. Donakonda, Nagarjuna Sagar and Nuzvid.
  If Donakonda in Prakasam district is considered, the surrounding settlements of Donakonda like Yerrabalem, Gangadona Konda, Vabbapuram, West Gangavaram and Abbya Palem etc can be included in the new capital. There was a airstrip  in Donakonda developed by the Britishers. However, Donakonda has no proper rail or road connectivity and more over there is an acute water shortage.  The Capital in Donakonda is not possible due to its negative factors
  Another proposed location is Nagarjuna Sagar in Guntur district.
 It is centrally located for Seemandhra. The surrounding settlements like Macharla, Kothapalle,, Chinthala Thanda, Rayavaram, Rachamallipadu and Kambhampadu can be included in the proposed new capital city. An abandoned runway of the old airport is existing and runway is in good condition. The place has proper road connectivity and drinking water is available. This can be considered for the capital, the initial assessment of the officials stated.
 Another proposal is to locate the new capital between Nuzvid and Hanuman Junction in Krishna district. Here vast extents of forest and government land is available. The surrounding settlements like Nuzividu, Kothapalli,Billanapalli,Vempadu, Kokkirapadu,    Pallerlamudi, Seetharamapuram etc can be included in the new capital project.  The existing Gannvaram airport of Vijayavada, is just 20-30 km from the proposed location. The location is having proper connectivity both road and rail.

  Comments

santosh  from Hidd

Kurnool should be made capital. Sribagh pact clearly gives the capital to rayalaseema. this is the only way to make development in the backward rayalaseema region.

Hari  

Best options for the new Andhra Capital will be 1) Nellore 2) Area between Tirupati and Nellore 3) Area between Ongole and Nellore. As Chittoor,Anantapur and Nellore will be part of Chennai - Banglore Industrial Corridor. These places will attract huge investments and create more jobs and business. Directly and Indirectly it will create more than 5 Lakh jobs in 2 to 3 years. Already more than 20 power companies with a capacity of 23000MW under construction in Nellore. 58 companies(Including biggest MNC in the world had started setting up there plant in the Sri City SEZ, Nellore and Chithoor border). 2 Major ports in the district. (5 Major ports including the 3 in chennai Ennore,Chennai & Mammallapuram) will help to develop those area substantially and attracts more manufacturing companies. All this in turn increases the income for the Residual Andhra. It will help to develop to other areas in the state with out depending on others. Major Industrial Cluster will be developed from Chennai covering Chittoor, Nellore, Anantapur and other areas in Tamilnadu. For Industries power supply is very important and if those companies are setup near the power supply areas then the distribution wastage will be less. Every thing will be benefit.

  RAGHUNATH.P RAGHUNATH.P  

Now a new capital has to be established for residuary Andhra Pradesh. Visakhapatnam City most probably fits the bill as new capital as it has an Airport, Harbour, Shipping yard, Eastern Naval Command, Steel Plant, Visakha refineries, Railway Divisional office etc. We should demand an IIT, demand shifting of Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, demand a new Railway Zone at Visakha. The present Waltair Railway Divisional office along with Vijayawada, Guntur,and Guntakal Divisions could be brought under this new Railway Zone. The Airport should be upgraded as an International Airport. Shifting of American Consulate from Hyderabad should be explored. The newly opened Women's Bank may be headquartered at Visakha. The city boasts few film studios. English and Telugu newspapers have edition here and private TV channels like ETV, Maa TV, Sakshi TV may open a branch here. Where is Chennai for Tamil Nadu, Mumbai for Maharashtra, Trivandrum for Kerala. Hence don't say Visakha is at a Corner place

ends