Andhra Pradesh Government has stepped back on the Three Capitals Bill and communicated that they will be revoking the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions and CRDA Repeal Acts of 2020. The same is being communicated to the high court through the Advocate General. High Court has postponed discussion on the bill till next monday and given time till friday to submit the same. The move is surprising especially since this has happened after India Home Minister Amit Shah's trip to Tirupati. Amit Shah had asked his party men to focus on Amaravati. BJP now says they will develop Amaravati as a good capital.
Revenue Minister Buggana Rajendranath introduced the 3 capitals repeal bill. Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed the bill to repeal bills related to Three Capitals. Buggana Rajendranath focused on the sub regional aspirations of all three regions of Andhra Pradesh. North Coastal Andhra came from Ganjam. Seema districts came from different states and thus have unique identities. Out of this need to recognize this uniqueness emerged the Telangana movement. Sivaramakrishna Committee spent a lot of time studying each region's uniqueness. He traveled 10 districts of 13 regions despite suffering from cancer. He expired soon after the report was presented.
YS Jagan while speaking on the repeal bill said that high court was earlier in Guntur which was taken to Hyderabad sixty two years back when the capital was in Kurnool. He said that Vizag given developmental support and encouragement can easily compete with Bangalore,Hyderabad in no time whereas Amaravati would require one lakh crore only for roads, drainage and basic amenities. And again this is current estimation. By the time the capital is built over a period of ten years or so, the cost may balloon to six lakh crores. Till then, the unemployed will still keep going to developed cities like mumbai, hyderabad, etc. The state cannot afford to put so much capital in one single region and ignore the development of other regions.
While BJP's u turn on Amaravati was surprising, even more astonishing is the decision to withdraw the three capitals bill. High Court is reviewing the three capitals and CRDA cancellation bill. YSRCP government had not just approved the three capitals in Assembly but also sent it to governor for asset. The three capitals gazette and CRDA cancellation bill was duly assented by the governor. High court had put a stay on both bills.
Telugu Desam Party had ignored the recommendations of the Centre appointed Sivaramakrishnan Committee findings and chose Amaravati where the TDP leaders had already bought huge lands. The key question is what will happen to the huge lands acquired by TDP government for their mega venture of Amaravati. Several environmentalists had suggested just 1000-2500 acres but AP government acquired 34000 acres aligning politically and avoiding some lands deliberately.
