CPM decries neglect of North Andhra

Visakhapatnam: CPM state secretary P Madhu blamed the gross neglect and apathy on the part of state government for the backwardness of north Andhra region. Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Madhu said that even as the TDP government was completing three years in power, it has failed in fulfilling the poll-eve promises made to north Andhra, including separate railway zone for Visakha and irrigation projects.

Highlights:

• Madhu demands specific statement by the government on steps to be taken for the development of the region ahead TDP Mahanadu
• Criticises delay in payment of compensation to oustees of Vamsadhara project

He demanded release a specific statement on the steps to be taken for the development of north Andhra before the commencement of Mahanadu in Visakhapatnam on May 27. He further charged that instead of development, north Andhra became the epicentre for exploitation of natural resources and land scams.

He lamented that the much-needed Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanti project was also cancelled. On the academic front, he said that Vizianagaram district has the lowest literacy rate of 58.89 per cent followed by Srikakulam with 61.74 per cent and Visakhapatnam with 66.91 per cent and added that of the total 3,500 schools likely to be closed in the state this year, majority of them were in the region.

Madhu said there was no improvement in the medical and healthcare sector too as it was identified that 116 villages in seven mandals of Srikakulam district were suffering from kidney related ailments, which were rising in Uddanam area. After a visit by Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan to Uddanam, the government had announced free supply of mineral water and pensions to all those suffering from kidney diseases by February which was not implemented so far, he said.

Even in the KGH too, there are 200 doctor posts and 570 nursing posts were lying vacant which compounded the situation further, the CPM leader said. He said to make agriculture profitable in north Andhra, the government has to provide necessary investments to farmers through co-operative sector and the banks also failed to cater the loan needs of farmers in the past three years.

Pointing out that the government sanctioned only Rs 450 crore as against the total requirement of Rs 850 crore for the Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) package for Vamsadhara project, the CPM leader said that the payment of compensation was not yet completed even after 11 years. Party state secretariat member Ch Narasinga Rao and city secretary B Ganga Rao were also present.