Promises to Anantapur only on paper

Anantapur: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who professes special love for the district has taken interest only on the South Korean Kia Motors project at Erramanchi village in Penukonda but the same interest is not being shown on fulfilling a host of promises relating to industrial ventures promised to the district.

Highlights:

• Except Kia Motors project, BHEL, BEL and Airbus projects, and Central and Energy universities are yet to be grounded
• People feel elected representatives from the district are not exerting pressure on state and central governments for fulfilling the promises made to Anantapur
• About 43 major industries had been established in the district with a total capital of Rs 5,314 crore, says DIC GM G Sudershan Babu

A Central University and an Energy University was promised to the district as part of the special bifurcation package under AP Reorganisation Act but nothing is heard about them nowadays. When Kona Sasidhar was the District Collector, he evinced interest in the Energy University. Allotted 500 acres of land for the same in Kuderu mandal.

It may be noted that the Chief Minister had been visiting the district very often but not a single, MLA, MP or even the district Ministers had given a representation to the Chief Minister urging him to speed up the projects promised to the district. With the exception of a couple of people's representatives, nobody has even an idea of the district needs or what was promised to it.

A Central University for the district was also part of the AP Reorganisation Act but Parliament has to pass a bill creating the university but it is not done even three-and-a-half years after the BJP came to power at the centre. Neither the Chief Minister nor the MPs from the district has taken up the issues with the Centre nor was it raised in the Parliament.

JNTUA College of Engineering even offered its buildings to launch the university but there are no god fathers, who own these projects. The university requires 500 acres of land. An Energy University also was announced and 500 acres of land in Kuderu was identified but no arrangements were being made as promised to launch the university in temporary buildings.

The university was to start courses in 2017-18 academic year but nobody knows why the university could not commence its courses. The university was promised keeping in view the nearly hundred wind and solar power projects established in the district and also in Kurnool district.

A cross section of people with whom 'The Hans India' spoke to feels there should be a proactive body consisting of people's representatives and men who matter which will act as a pressure group to follow-up with the powers that be. K J David, a social worker mooted the idea of the constitution of a pressure group to work on the same effectively.

BHEL and Airbus projects are the major projects announced but nobody really knows when these projects would really become a reality. Bharath Electronic Limited(BEL), a central government public sector project costing Rs 750 crore in the sprawling 1,200 acres was announced in Palasamudram mandal in Penukonda region. Promise of a new industrial township in Hindupur, Textile Park, Food Park and an Electronics Hardware Cluster, a steel plant in Rayadurg for which foundation stone was already laid are all hanging in the balance.

“A committee should be constituted with people's representatives to bring these projects to their logical conclusion so that it could negotiate with the government on any road blocks in the execution of the projects,” feels a small-scale industrialist Raghunath Reddy from Hindupur. Reddy adds that the district has potential for operating IT companies in view of its close proximity to Bengaluru. IT companies can be operated with low budget as services and personnel are cheaper locally.

National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics is another prestigious institute planned in the district in 500 acres at a cost of Rs 600 crore in Palasamudram mandal near Gorantla.

This is the second in the country after Faridabad in Haryana state and the lone institute in South India. District Industries Centre (DIC) general manager G Sudershan Babu told The Hans India that nine industrial estates are being operated in the district and 15 more are now in the pipeline. The new estates are likely to trigger in industrial development and generate employment. So far, about 43 major industries had been established with a total capital of Rs 5,314 crore.

By Ravi P Benjamin