Centre assures 'all-out help' to AP in setting up its capital

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday assured to extend all out help to Andhra Pradesh in building its new capital saying his ministry will not be a road block but act as a facilitator and have special forest appraisal committees to fast track the process of necessary approvals for the purpose.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met Javadekar in the presence of Civil Aviation Minister A Gajapathi Raju and MoS Science and Technology Y S Chaudhary to discuss the modalities for setting up the new capital at Amaravati between Guntur and Vijaywada. Javadekar said his Ministry, if necessary, can denotify the forest land as per the state government's aspirations.
"There is a clause (in the AP Reorganisation Act) itself that if necessary the required forest land can be denotified. If Andhra Pradesh government decides to go that way, we will support it. We will have special forest appraisal committees to assess these proposals sooner. We will fast track this project," Javadekar said after the meeting.
He said that AP Reorganisation Act states that the Centre will facilitate creation of new capital. Javadekar said, his Ministry would also accept hard copy of application of proposals for approvals.
"It's a great beginning for the state of AP. We will give all out help to state government in the creation of the state capital. Environment Ministry will not be a road block but a facilitator. There will be more greening. Whatever forest land is given for capital, more greening will be done, " he said.