VIJAYAWADA: With the State achieving top rank in Ease of Doing Business (EODB) pushing neighbouring Telangana to the second spot, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is a happy man.
Speaking to media persons at his camp office here on Wednesday, a visibly delighted Naidu said, “I find kick (excitement) in the success. Today, I have three best issues to mention. EODB, inauguration of Anna Canteens to feed the poor and the visit of the Union Minister to the Polavaram project site.’’
“EODB is an index to analyse the efficiency of the government. We were number 2 in 2016 and number one along with Telangana in 2017 and now stood top this time. This proved that we are heading towards fulfilling the goals by improving the process time-to-time,’’ Naidu said.
Brushing aside the charges of corruption being levelled by opposition parties against his government, Naidu said, “Some people are talking about corruption while roaming on the roads. Going to the court every Friday and talking about corruption is not okay. What right they have? Threatening government officers is not a right way in politics. With such acts, the opposition parties are damaging the name of the State.’’
He said ‘no corruption’ was one of the preconditions in the agreement between Kia Motors and the State government. The company management said they would not encourage corruption and the government, too, has ensured zero corruption in all stages of the project. “As the government is ensuring transparency, industrialists are making Andhra Pradesh their destination and the same is reflected in the feedback of investors, which resulted in the State securing the top rank in EODB.”
Stating that AP stood top in many aspects like attracting FDI, agriculture, power, education, health and Information Technology, he said getting top rank in EODB was a great achievement for the State. It will be written in the history of the State.
“Getting appreciation from all over the country is a great thing,” Naidu said, adding that the goal is to continue to raise the bar and keep the momentum and retain the number one ranking in the future.
‘Waiting for nod to revised estimates’
The Chief Minister said that the last Cabinet meeting of the Congress-led UPA government announced Polavaram as a national project and promised to bear all the expenditure. The UPA government also assured to revise the estimates of the Polavaram project as the rehabilitation and resettlement cost is set to escalate after the passage of the Land Acquisition Bill. “The NDA government also reiterated the same and we are waiting for the Centre’s approval for the revised estimates of Polavaram,” he added.