TUDA wants Sri City under its limits

Tirupati: In a significant development, TUDA (Tirupati Urban Development Authority) sent a proposal to government to bring Sri City SEZ a flourishing industrial area under its purview.

As a follow up to TUDA chairman Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, who recently announced in a media conference that TUDA would approach the government for including SEZ area under its purview, TUDA sent the proposal to the government taking one step ahead.

Speaking to media here on Tuesday, TUDA vice-chairman PS Girisha said that TUDA sent the proposal to expand its limit which is now up to to Srikalahasthi to Sri City, including the villages within the SEZ area.

He observed as more than 90 per cent of the land acquired for Sri City SEZ is in Chittoor district, TUDA wanted it to be under its limit.

However it is pertinent to note that the SEZ located in Chittoor district was tagged with NUDA (Nellore Urban Development Authority) by the previous TDP government said to be due to the pressure from K Narayana who as minister wielded lot of influence in the TDP government in 2016 brushing aside the protests from various sections including leaders of political parties in Chittoor district and also villagers.

While political pandits view the proposal as a step to undo the injustice done during TDP regime to the Chittoor district which naturally prove advantageous to YSRCP in the district, the home turf of TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu, in the long run, it is to be seen whether the government would give its nod or not.

It is needless to say that bringing back the SEZ area to TUDA in other words to Chittoor district may not be an easy task as leaders from Nellore including from YSRCP naturally oppose it as no one will be ready to forgo a plum area like Sri City, a rapidly growing special economic zone.

Sources say that for more than one reason YSRCP leaders from here seek the SEZ back as it would not only undo the injustice done to Chittoor district but also help strengthen economically TUDA which spread over five constituencies, including Chandragiri, Tirupati, Srikalahasthi, Nagari and if SEZ included Satyavedu also taking up more and more development initiatives proving beneficial to the part.

Even if the government declines, Bhaskar Reddy will remain as a person who made good effort to get back the lost SEZ to the district enhancing his image and also his party in the district.