VIJAYAWADA: Underscoring the need for building an ‘inclusive’ Capital city, Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan has urged the State government to address the issues being raised by various civil groups and stakeholders. If the State government goes ahead with its unilateral plans, the social unrest in the State, particularly in the Rayalaseema region, may give rise to another statehood movement as it happened in Telangana, he warned.
Speaking after releasing the book ‘Whose capital, Amaravati?’ written by former chief secretary IYR Krishna Rao here on Thursday, he said policy-makers should ensure that the future generations do not suffer because of the decisions taken now. “An inclusive capital, not a party-centric one, is what the State government should build. If people don’t have a sense of belonging, the injustice keeps growing, leading to massive public movements,” he cautioned.
He recalled that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, before taking a decision on Amaravati, informed him that only a small portion of land in Mangalagiri was required for capital construction. “When I asked him (Naidu) about land requirement for the capital city, I was told that about 1,500 acres of forest land in Mangalagiri would be sufficient. Even though I did not differ with the TDP on the extent of land being taken for the capital, I opposed the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) and protested against taking farmers’ lands against their will,” he recalled and observed that the Telangana State has accommodated its entire administrative machinery in 200 acres in Hyderabad.
Author of the 112-page book, IYR Krishna Rao, speaking on the occasion, said that a capital, which does not take public interests into account, would not flourish. He cited the examples from across the world to explain how mega cities, instead of turning into cities of wealth creation, became a burden on the state/country resources.
Former minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao, whom the book was dedicated to, explained how the State government resorted to intimidation and coercion while pooling land for the capital city. He also came down heavily on the Chief Minister for wasting public money for his whims and fancies.
Former MP Undavalli Arun Kumar, Left parties’ leaders K Ramakrishna and P Madhu, Prof C Ramachandraiah of the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) and others participated in the programme.Ramachandraiah announced that he is also writing a book on Amaravati and it will be co-authored by former IAS officer EAS Sarma.
Varla unveils Varma’s work on Capital City
Even as actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan released former IAS officer IYR Krishna Rao’s book on Thursday, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) senior leader Varla Ramaiah released ‘Praja Rajadhanipai Kutra-Dushta Chatushtayam’, a book written by Sridhar Varma, member of the Brahmin Corporation, in the city. Speaking on the occasion, he alleged that former chief secretary IYR Krishna Rao, influenced by a few political parties, is resorting to false propaganda on the capital. He also called Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan an immature leader.