Actor-politician and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan said on Saturday that the construction of Andhra Pradesh's capital must continue in Amaravati and advised the YSRCP government against going back on the decision.
Pawan stated that it just was not an issue of the 28,000 farmers who gave their land for the capital, but an issue for the entire state. The JSP chief also announced that he would visit Amaravati on August 30 and 31.
"The new government should implement the decisions taken by the previous government. It could make corrections if there are any irregularities but otherwise, people will lose faith in the government and its policies if it changes the capital city...Once the previous government has taken a decision to build the capital in Amaravati and passed a Bill in the Assembly, everyone should abide by it whether it is good or bad. It is people's money spent on development," he stated.
Last week, Andhra Pradesh Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Minister Botcha Satyanarayana started a row after he stated that there was a need to reconsider if Amaravati was safe to be the state's capital, as the region along the banks of the Krishna river was flood-prone.
While the YSRCP was quick to clarfiy that there would be no change in the location of the capital, many locals and opposition leaders alike have expressed their apprehension.
Addressing a gathering of farmers from Amaravati in Hyderabad on Saturday Pawan Kalyan said that people's representatives should not make such statements that would create confusion on the ground.
"People including me don't know what development is going on in Amaravati. What about the money spent so far spent on the project? It is the people's money and not that of the Ministers or Chief Minister," Pawan Kalyan stated.
The farmers who had earlier met the Jana Sena Party chief said in a representation, "We have voluntarily given the lands in 29 villages for Amaravati and more than 28,000 families are dependent on the fertile agriculture land. The construction of most of the structures is completed. The developmental works came to a halt after the new government took over the reins and annual lease amounts have not been released this year. The statements by Minister Satyanarayana is causing great concern and badly affecting our interests."
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