AP shows nerves of steel

Kadapa: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the long-awaited Kadapa steel plant, while eliciting support of the people of Rayalaseema to him in the next elections for continuance of all development works initiated by him.

"If you want this development to continue without interruption, you should support the party that is committed to its promises," Naidu said and referred to several irrigation projects which have been commissioned in the district for quenching the thirst of the parched lands and throats.

The chief minister, by laying the foundation stone for steel plant christened Rayalaseema Steel Corporation, sent out a message loud and clear to the NDA dispensation that the state was taking up the construction of the plant since the BJP had conveniently glossed over its responsibility though it was constitutionally bound to do it.

The plant, which will come up in perennially drought-affected Rayalaseema region, appeared to have let the youth allow themselves the luxury of the first stirrings of hope that they had bright future if their applause was any indication. The steel plant would transform the landscape of Kadapa and the neighbouring districts by triggering growth of ancillary industries, Naidu said.

The Rs 20,000-crore project will be taken up under PPP mode. The AP State Mineral Development Corporation would have a partnership with a private player to promote the project.

The chief minister, who arrived in Kambaladinne in the district in the morning all charged up after laying the foundation stone for the prestigious AP Secretariat Towers raft in Amaravati earlier in the day, vowed to complete the steel plant within the next two years and took the BJP to task for its indifference in going to the rescue of the state which is not yet out of the woods after division and the YSRC for trying to make light of the project.
"I am giving my word to you. Until the project is over which may take about two years, I will not sleep.

The YSRC says I was laying the foundation stone to push up land prices. I want to know from YSRC what was wrong if the land prices appreciate. The farmers would benefit from it," he said.

Naidu said that the state had to take up the construction of the plant after the Centre remained callous to several pleas and assurances of providing water, power and iron ore to the project.

"Rajya Sabha member CM Ramesh and TDP leader B Tech Ravi had gone on hunger strike. We had given 60-day deadline for the Centre to react. When nothing has happened, we have decided to establish the factory ourselves," Naidu said.

Taking a swipe at YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Naidu said that YSRC leader does not want the steel plant to come up in Kadapa. When the TDP was fighting for steel plant, YSRC leaders shirked away from their responsibility.

"Has Jagan Mohan Reddy ever tried to plead with the Centre for the steel factory," Naidu asked, and pointed out that when YS Rajasekhar Reddy was the chief minister, the government had allotted 12,000 acres for Brahmini Steels but the management had pledged the land in banks to raise loans and exported out Rs 30,000 crore worth of iron ore, meant for Brahmani, filling the pockets of those close to Rajasekhar Reddy family.

Chandrababu Naidu said that Rayalseema would one day become Ratanaala Seema as he had great plans for enhancing availability of water for irrigation and for industries which would kindle economic growth.

“When Kia Motors asked me where they would get water for their project in Anantapur, he told them to give him six months’ time. In that time, we have completed Handri-Neeva and ensured that water would reach Gollapalli reservoir from where Kia will draw water. It would be a proud moment when Kia rolls out its first car from its Anantapur facility in January," he said.

Naidu hoped that better days are not far off for Kadapa. “I am happy to see water flowing into Gandikota reservoir and it would be developed into a tourist spot. Around the steel plant that is going to come up, a steel city would be developed,” he said.