A sleepy town stakes claim to capital city of Seemandhra

• CS explains Donakonda’s potential in report to GoM

• Located in Prakasam, it is equidistant from major cities

• Better climate, green cover and no industries nearby

• Disadvantages: Fluoride water, no highway close by

Ongole: The bifurcation of the State being certain, politicians and officials alike are keenly examining the potential of various cities and places to become the new capital of the residual State.

Donakonda in Prakasam district has emerged as one of the strong contenders for the location of the capital city.

There are reports of serious efforts by several senior politicians vying for the capital city at Visakhapatnam, or between Vijayawada and Guntur towns, or in Kurnool district.

However, the Chief Secretary has reportedly mentioned the place of Donakonda and stressed its prospects for being the capital city, in his report recently submitted to the Group of Ministers (GoM).

Donakonda town is located about 90 km from Prakasam district headquarters, Ongole, and is close to the Nallamala forest. It is almost equidistant from Kurnool, Guntur, Vijayawada, Nellore, Tirupati and Kadapa cities – the distance would be around 200 km to any of these cities.

Though there is no national highway connectivity at present, it is said that it is indeed possible to lay six-lane highway at a distance of about 90 km from the place. As for the requirement of a vast land for locating a state capital city, adequate land can be provided by the forest department by denotifying the reserve forest.

It may be noted here that the British rulers had established an airport at Donakonda during the Second World War period for filling fuel to fighter planes. They also constructed a railway station to transport soldiers as well as arms and ammunition. At present, not less than 20 trains pass through this railway station every day. It is the only railway line to operate trains between Vijayawada and Guntakal cities.

The then British government also constructed residential quarters to railway employees and most of them are in a good condition even now.

Revenue officials said that there is a vast government land, including Reserve Forest land around Donakonda town, to cater to the construction of important buildings like legislative assembly, secretariat etc.

The only glitch is that the groundwater is contaminated with fluoride. A pipeline either from Srisailam or Krishna river can help meet needs of drinking water. As regards environmental conditions, the day temperature during peak summer is more or less equal to that of other cities like Guntur and Vijayawada cities. But, the green cover due to proximity to nearby Nallamala forest is one of its main advantages throughout the year.

There are also no industries near the town, and hence no chances of chemical or industrial pollution threat to the capital city. A major port, Krishnapatnam, is less than 150 km from the town. One can reach the place from from West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa and Kurnool district within four or five hours once the highway was laid down.