TDP Struggle For SCS, An Election Stunt

Amaravati: Telugu Desam Party's so-called struggle for Special category status is a mere election gimmick. As the general elections are round the corner government is laying foundation stones to the projects. The Telugu Desam government is claiming credit for projects which were taken up with Central government's funds. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had earlier agreed to the Special Package instead of Special Category Status. He lauded it on the floor of the assembly as well.

Now, Chandrababu is coming up with a series of foundation-laying ceremonies aimed at hoodwinking the people than achieve any real progress. The TDP chief did not take up developmental activities like constructing ports, airports or reduce unemployment rates. But now at the fag end of his term he appears to be in a hurry to lay foundation stones to the projects.

The steel plant in YSR Kadapa district was to be constructed by the Union government as mentioned in the bifurcation act. MECON company was denied details on the project. On the other hand, government officials question how a government with a deficit budget is taking up a Rs 18,000 crores project.

Former Chief Secretary IVR Krishna Rao raised concerns over the steel plant and said state government should get it done by the Union government.

Dugarajapatnam port was to be built by the Union government as per the bifurcation act, but the TDP government failed in getting this done. The state was silent all the four and half years while it was in alliance with the BJP in the Union government. Union government has already offered to build another port showing objections to Dugarajapatnam, but the state has not been responding to those letters, it has been pointed out.

The state government has been constructing a minor port in Ramayapatnam. The Union government offered to build a major port but the state is not responding over the issue, is the criticism. In January the government might lay the foundation stone for the project.

Machilipatnam port foundation stone was laid by Late Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy in 2008, but that project did not take off after his unfortunate demise. Even the land has not been acquired for the project. But officials said that they have received orders from CMO that in the second week of January foundation stone must be laid for the port. Officers are also being pressurized to lay foundation stone to the GMR port in Kakinada Special Economic Zone.

An airport for every district was Chandrababu Naidu's boast. In the past four years and only in Orvakal, Kurnool district the construction of airport went ahead and in other districts, nothing concrete happened. For four years Ashok Gajapathi Raju from the TDP was the Union Minister of Civil Aviation but the irony is not one project has not been completed. Officials said they are being pressurized to lay a foundation stone, post-Sankranti to Dagadarthi airport in Nellore.

In Kuppam, Chandrababu's constituency, he is going to lay foundation stone to the airstrip, where small planes can land on January 2. All the development projects are being taken up just a few months ahead of the polls. It is not hard to guess why.

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