Chandrababu: The Myth And Reality Of Amaravati

Kommineni Srinivasa Rao

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu keeps harping on the idea that the state’s new capital, Amaravati would be one of its kind and among the five top cities in the world. An idea which is pleasing to the ears. It’s true that the Chandrababu government circulated videos and CDs all over the world. We often see videos and images of Amaravati in the media.

In truth, there is no clarity yet on where the high court or Raj Bhavan should be built. There is no approved, finalised plan. The government took forever to prepare the design, but the high court is yet to lend its nod. An important question is—how did the government give a utilisation certificate claiming it had spent an additional 80 crores apart from the Rs. 1500 crores given by the Centre?

On top of this, the AP government has sent a utilisation certificate to the Centre to the effect that the construction of the new capital is over to a large extent. This is a statement from none other than the Union Minister of State, Mr. Pon Radhakrishnan made in the Lok Sabha. Strangely very few questions were raised about this in the media. Shouldn’t the media question the government when it claims that the High Court, Raj Bhavan, Assembly and Secretariat have already been constructed?

In truth, there is no clarity yet on where the high court or Raj Bhavan should be built. There is no approved, finalised plan. The government took forever to prepare the design, but the high court is yet to lend its nod. An important question is—how did the government give a utilisation certificate claiming it had spent an additional 80 crores apart from the Rs. 1500 crores given by the Centre? How did the Central government accept it? In the name of temporary construction, two or three buildings have been completed. Barring these, not a brick has been laid. What we find in the region is a large area of desolate, barren waste. A few roads are probably being laid.

How did the Chandrababu Naidu government claim that most of the buildings related to capital construction were over? When a PTI journalist posed this question to a CRDA official, how did he have the audacity to say “they haven’t been built in your opinion, but have been completed according to us”? Strictly speaking, when the Centre releases money under a certain head of account, isn’t it necessary that the amount is spent only on that item of expenditure, as per norms? Can a government issue a false certificate? What is the difference then between those who cheat using fake certificates and a government?

Why are people punished by the law for committing this offence? Why is it that governments, officials and political leaders are going scot-free? Is producing a fake certificate something a government should do? Do they think that people are fools and that regardless of what they do, can buy the electorate over like sheep? What they ought to know is that people will not remain sheep forever and can distinguish between right and wrong.

The common man also has self-respect and cannot be taken for a ride all the time. Will people teach a lesson to such leaders who try to delude them by showing CDs about a world-class capital city with nothing on the ground? Time alone will tell.

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