Naidu for Blue Plan in Amaravati

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday asked the officials to protect the existing water bodies in the capital Amaravati. Speaking to the officials, Naidu had asked them to include the protection of the existing water bodies like the islands in the River Krishna and the rivulet Kodaveetivagu in the city blue plan.

He asked them to adopt global practices in drafting the plan for Amaravati and said that 30 per cent of the city’s total land should be left for the green cover, which would place Amaravati on the global map as one of the top cities.

He directed the officials to take the flood history of both River Krishna and rivulet Kondaveetivagu, while preparing the blue plan for the capital city. He said that the River Krishna which divides the two cities of Vijayawada and Amaravati should have a global backdrop with the river banks on both sides and developed to attract world tourists.

A blue plan consultant from Netherlands, Rob Steijn, gave a presentation on Amaravati. Steijn, who had worked in providing blue plans for cities over 80 countries, provided expertise in making Amaravati into a global city.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to introduce navigation in the river and the canals in both Vijayawada and Amaravati cities in future. The navigation should connect both the cities besides providing tourist interest for the visitors, he said.

He also directed the officials of the CRDA, revenue, irrigation, environment and forests, Inland Waterways Authority of India to work in coordination in the implementation of the blue plan for the capital city.

CRDA vice-chairman and Minister for Municipal Administration, P Narayana, Capital City Development and Management Corporation chairperson Lakshmi Parthasarathi, Chief Minister’s Principal Secretaries Satish Chandra and Sai Prasad, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Principal Secretary Ajay Jain were present at the meeting.