The abundant natural resources available in Seemandhra would be taken into consideration before submitting the final report for identifiying a suitable place for the new capital of the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh. The committee would take all the suggestions made by the people to the notice of the Union government, according to Rathin Roy, member of the expert committee constituted by the Union government.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the officials of various departments here Sunday, he said the committee had already visited Visakhapatnam. It would also visit Vijayawada and Guntur and collect data from various government departments.
Earlier, collector Neetu Prasad explained the cultural, traditional and historical importance of the city. There was abundant scope for development of tourism and agro industries in the district, she said and disclosed that thousands of acres of government and private land was available in the district.
The collector said 24,800 acres of government land was available in Rajanagaram, Peddapuram, Gandepalli and Rangampeta mandals. The total area of the district was 10,807 sq.km and the total population was 51.5 lakh of which 13.14 lakh was in the urban areas and 38.37 lakh in rural areas.
The collector further said that several fertiliser factories and power plants including those owned by GVK and GMR groups were present in the state. Besides, several oil majors were involved in exploration activities in the district which was a part of the K-G basin.
There were 5,217 primary and high schools, 238 junior colleges, 10 nursing colleges, 53 degree colleges, 15 B.Ed colleges, 26 engineering colleges, three medical colleges and two Universities, the collector informed.
She said Madhurapudi Airport was close to Rajahmundry city and the district has air, rail and road connectivity along with the facility of river waterway. The district has two ports at Kakinada, and the Hope Island could be converted into a hub for tourism.
Rajahmundry Urban superintendent of police TRK Murthy explained about the law and order issues in the district. Municipal Corporation commissioner V Ravindra Babu said the Corporation was ahead of all others in the state by collecting 96.5 per cent of taxes. Committee members Aromar Revi, Jagan Shah and KT Ravindran were present.