No water worries for Andhra Pradesh capital if Krishna-Godavari linked at Polavaram.

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s proposal of a Krishna-Godavari linkage through Polavaram right canal at Prakasam barrage will be useful not only to the Krishna delta but also for the new capital city.

Irrigation officials are of the opinion that the completion of the right canal is the only immediate solution for intra-state water disputes between Andhra and Telangana.

According to officials, the project is already on the cards and it could be initiated without completion of the expensive Polavaram project.

Several states have raised objections over Polavaram project and according to estimates, nearly Rs 15,000 crore in funds and four years time is needed for completion of the project.

According to new plans, the Polavaram right canal will be completed within a year.

The canal would be connected to Krishna River at Prakasam barrage. Under this process, linkage of Krishna and Godavari Rivers will be possible without completing the Polavaram project.

Already the CM has announced the plan at Telugu Desam state party’s extended meet.

According to preliminary estimations nearly 8,000 cusecs of water could be had from Godavari River every day.

Moreover, the same quantity of water could be released for Krishna delta canals. Meanwhile, the water reserves could be preserved at Pulichintala project.

Krishna district irrigation department superintendent engineer K. Srinivasa Rao said that water is available all 365 days in a year in Godavari River.

AP Capital Region Development Authority Bill Introduced.

The Andhra Pradesh government today introduced the AP Capital Region Development Authority Bill, 2014, in the state Legislative Assembly.

"Consequent to the bifurcation of the state, there is an absolute need to establish a new capital for Andhra Pradesh and develop the capital region in a planned manner to ensure comprehensive development of the area.

"It is decided to establish the AP Capital Region Development Authority for the capital region by undertaking a specific legislation for giving statutory back-up," Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P Narayana said while introducing the Bill.

The state Chief Minister would be Chairman of the Authority while the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister would be the vice-chairman.

Eight bureaucrats, including the state Chief Secretary would be members of the Authority while four national and international experts, who possess knowledge in urban governance, planning, conservation, environment and transportation would be appointed by the government as members.

The government has proposed creation of Capital Region Development Fund with a seed capital of Rs 1000 crore for providing working capital to the Authority and administering the Act.

The legislation also provided for creation of a Rs 250 crore revolving fund for undertaking development of amenities and infrastructure facilities in the capital area.

The legislation seeks to declare the Capital Area for the state of Andhra Pradesh, ensure planning, coordination, execution, financing, promoting and securing planned development of the capital region, provide, manage and supervise urban services in the new capital area and improve quality of life of citizens residing in it, the minister said, explaining the salient features of the legislation.

A perspective plan for 100 years, a concept master plan for 20 years and a detailed master plan for 10 years would be prepared for the capital region.

Some offices to function from Vijayawada from April.

Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday declared that some State government offices would start functioning from Vijayawada from April next. He was addressing the TD Legislature Party meeting in the Assembly here.

According to party sources, Mr. Naidu said if necessary the offices would function from temporary sheds even while he sought to remind the legislators that Hyderabad would continue to be the common capital for 10 years.

Mr. Naidu said from January 3, 2015 he would interact with party MLAs every Saturday at Lake View Guest House and also wanted all the Ministers to attend these meetings. Revenues up

Pointing to the huge increase made by the government in pension amounts, he told them to ensure that the message reached the people. He also mentioned how the revenues had increased due to the new sand mining policy and global auctioning of red sanders logs seized from smugglers.

He declared that the government would give gift packs of essential commodities to people on festivals like Christmas and this move would cost Rs. 300 crore to the exchequer.

On farmers’ suicides, he refuted reports that 23 people had ended their lives and maintained that there were only six such cases.

When some MLAs said that migrants were not getting pensions as they were not having Aadhaar cards, Mr. Naidu said already 90 per cent of the people had Aadhaar numbers and they too should also enrol themselves.

Andhra Pradesh cabinet clears draft bill to create capital.

The Andhra Pradesh cabinet tonight cleared the draft bill for the creation of a Capital Region Development Authority for the state's new capital area near Vijayawada.

The AP Chief Minister is set to be Chairman of the CRDA, which would replace the existing Vijayawada-Guntur- Tenali-Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority.

The CRDA Bill is scheduled to be introduced in the AP State Legislature on December 19 for approval. 

AP CRDA Draft bill details and scheme area.

The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (AP CRDA) Bill-2014 seeks to introduce a licensing system under which any 'developer entity' that desires to undertake its land pooling scheme in the capital region will have to obtain a licence from the authority.

Though the state government has not stated any criteria pertaining to granting these licences in the draft Bill, such a provision presupposes the scope for entry of multiple private players to deal with farmer lands in the capital region.

The government has already identified 30,000 acres of land in Tullur mandal of Guntur district for acquisition through the land pooling system in the first phase for the development of the new capital city.

The concept of permitting land pooling to a developer entity was used in the past by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which had categorised any individual farmer or a group of farmers or a developer as the developer entity.

Scheme area
According to the draft Bill, the authority would earmark 10 per cent of the total scheme area for parks, play grounds, gardens and open area, 30 per cent of the scheme area for roads and other utility services, 5 per cent for social amenities such as schools, dispensaries and other community facilities and 5 per cent for affordable housing meant for economically weaker sections.

Once the Bill becomes Act, the government would create the capital region development authority under the chairmanship of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu with municipal and finance ministers and secretaries of various departments as members. A separate executive committee will handle day-to-day functions of the authority while the commissioner will act as chief executive officer, according to the draft Bill.

A separate integrated transport authority for the capital region, a separate board of appeal on any decision of the planning officer and a separate capital city development fund are among the other important features.

The Bill also provides for a three-year imprisonment or levy of up to 20 per cent of the registration value of the land as 

NIT shifts from Tadepalligudem to Agiripalli!

Chief Minister CBN has decided to shift prestigious Central Institute National Institute of Technology (NIT) moved from Tadepalligudem. Technical committee that visited recently in Tadepalligudem was not willing to establish NIT in the region. Earlier, team from Delhi satisfied in procuring the land but raised many doubts. Forest lands and availability of airport facilities near TP Gudem brought confidence that NIT should be establishing in West Godavari. 
The reason that Technical committee raised after that the available land is in rectangular shape that raised many questions on construction of the Institute. Reportedly, Maganti Babu has received the information from Technical committee on this. Chandra Babu Naidu gave indication during the review meeting on Educational institutions yesterday that NIT might shifted to Agiripalli in Krishna district. There are huge forest lands in and around the Agiripalli. As per the technical committee requests, Agiripalli is nearer to Chennai-Kolkatta High way, Nuzivid Railway station and Gannavaram Airport also nearer to Agiripalli. Earlier, there was a proposal to construct new airport in the lands of Agiripalli but the proposal withdrawn.

AP govt to support farmers giving land for new capital.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday assured to protect the interests of the farmers who are willing to relinquish their land for the new state capital.

"The government would protect the interests of the farmers who are willing to hand over their lands under land pooling scheme. They will be the first to enjoy the benefits of the new state capital," Naidu said here while addressing a group of farmers from Tulluru and Mangalagiri tehsils in Guntur district, who came to greet him.

Farmers from Tulluru and its surrounding villages are willing to part with their agricultural lands for the construction of the new state capital.

"The new capital would provide good employment opportunities for the locals...It is an opportunity for them for their socio-economic growth," the Chief Minister said.