ANANTAPUR:It is my responsibility to turn Anantapur district, which is the second most backward and drought-prone districts in the country, into a drought-free area, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said. He was speaking after laying the foundation stone, along with Union ministers Arun Jaitley, M Venkaiah Naidu, Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Sujana Choudhari, for the National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics, at Palasamudram village in Somandepalli mandal in the district on Saturday.
Addressing a public meeting ZP High School grounds, he said the UPA government divided the state without following rationality, as a result of which more revenue went to Telangana.
The state got some relief as the Centre released funds in March, he said. As the Centre gave special package to four Rayalaseema and three North Andhra districts, which are very backward, there is an opportunity that many industries would come up in these districts, he hoped. Naidu said Rs 10,000 of DWACRA loans would be waived very soon and farmers’ debt redemption scheme is already implemented.
He said he would give utmost priority to Anantapur after West Godavari district as both districts gave ‘total verdict’ in favour of TDP during the elections.
“After the bifurcation, the truncated state of Andhra Pradesh is facing many problems and I am happy that the Centre is fulfilling its promises in a phased manner. I request finance minister Arun Jaitley to cooperate for the establishment of industries in Rayalaseema along the Bangaluru-Hyderabad Industrial Corridor,” Naidu appealed.
“We brought the National Customs Academy to the severe drought-prone district. Many other industries like Airbus and BEL are also going to establish units in the district. I assure you that our government will provide drinking and irrigated water to Rayalaseema by linking Godavari, Krishna and Penna rivers. Water would be supplied to Anantapur district within four years by completing Polavaram Project,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Arun Jaitley said the NDA government is committed to fulfilling the assurances given in the AP Reorganisation Act in toto. As Anantapur district is very near to Bangaluru, there is every chance of development in the district, he opined.
“I came here to personally know about the plight of the people of the district. The district is facing acute water problem. We will completely support the state government in implementing special schemes to eradicate the water problem,” Jaitley assured.
Venkaiah Naidu, in his speech, assured all possible help from the Centre for resolving the problems being faced by the state. The Centre would fulfil all its obligations in implementing the state Reorganisation Act, including new railway zone to the state. Earlier, Anantapur MP JC Divakar Reddy demanded that the Centre declare special category status to the state.
MP N Kistappa, ministers Paritala Sunitha and P Raghunath Reddy, MLAs BK Parthasaradhi, Prabhakar Choudhary and Earanna, MLC Geyanand, collector K Sashidhar and joint collector Lakshmi Kantham participated.