Even as Telangana Assembly constituted a House Committee on alleged encroachments of assigned lands in the State, the State Government simultaneously ordered a survey into eight acres of assigned land at Rampur allegedly encroached by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah. The Revenue officials concerned in Warangal has commenced survey of the land at the directive of the government, according to informed sources. 

The KCR government is firm on its plan to distribute three acres of land to each Dalit family by recovering the encroached lands, which was estimated at 1.90 lakh acres. Legislative Affairs Minister T Harish Rao alleged that the Congress leader grabbed the land in violation of the Act. If the case is proved, Ponnala may face six-month imprisonment, he informed the House. The previous Congress government had allotted eight acres of assigned land to Ponnala Lakshmaiah at a throwaway price of Rs 25,500 per acre as against the actual cost of Rs 10 lakh per acre. 

The minister also told the Assembly that then government, through a GO gave 75 acres of land to APIIC and asked it to pay 12 per cent interest and did not ask Ponnala to pay any interest. The prime land is abutting the national highway and Ponnala violated the existing Act that denies permission to disposal of assigned lands. Harish Rao further informed the House that in 1971 then government had allotted 106.31 acres of assigned land to Dalits in Rampur village in Warnagal district. 

However, the court denied permission to Ponnala and Rammohan when they tried to take the land as it was assigned to Dalit community. Though notices were issued to them, Ponnala encroached upon the land, Harish Rao alleged. Now that the Act was violated, the GO issued gets cancelled and the government will initiate action, he said. The action should be such that no person in future should try to encroach upon the land, he added.

Home Minister Arun Jaitley has made a statement regarding the ongoing Name Change Controversy of the domestic terminal of Shamshabad Airport. “We have seen some unnecessary controversies over this issue. I would like to confirm that NTR’s name will continue for Domestic Terminal of Hyderabad Airport. Both Rajiv and NTR are great leaders, better not to make an issue”, Jaitley said. 

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that Union government only restored NTR’s name which was earlier for the Domestic Terminal of Begumpet Airport. Congress and TRS MLAs have staged protest over the issue for the last couple of days in Parliament. It is known that Telangana Assembly had passed a resolution opposing the name change. 

The old Hyderabad airport at Begumpet used to have two terminals.The international one was named after Rajiv Gandhi and the domestic one after NTR. After Begumpet airport was closed for commercial traffic and a new airport at Shamshabad is opened, only Rajiv Gandhi’s name was given to both the terminals when YS Rajasekhar Reddy got to power in 2004.

There has been no dearth of news regarding the special features of the proposed capital for AP. According to national media, the capital would come up on either sides of the Krishna River upstream of Prakasam barrage. There would be a 20-kilometer long garden on the either sides of the river with landscaping including huge water fountains. 

Sources say that the assembly of the new capital would be built on the lines of Taj Mahal. This would be done with a massive dome like structure since Chandrababu envisages it to be a huge attraction for tourists all over India. Moreover, there are reports that Singapore government would be paid Rs. 1200 crore as consultation fees. This is for preparing initial project master plan. 

While many feel this would be a great endeavor, critics feel it is only wastage of money! It now remains to be seen how this move is going to be received by the people of Andhra Pradesh though.

AP CM Chandrababu Naidu’s Japan trip turned out to be super hit. As part of meeting top executives of Japanese companies, Naidu tried his best to send a strong signal that AP is industry-friendly and next destination for investors. Apart from declaring that there would be a single-window clearance, Naidu showcased a Japanese short Film, prepared by AP Government, to draw investors. 

Naidu also made a presentation on investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh including a Japanese version of a short film prepared by the Andhra Pradesh government, which was screened on the occasion, confirmed a statement from CM Office. “Our single-window clearance, rapid approvals and 24×7 power are the attractive points,” Naidu said, urging Yanmar Group to help the state make agriculture profitable and sustainable, the release said. 

Naidu has assured a Japanse firm, “If you want to start a manufacturing unit in our state, we can give clearances in a week’s time. On the eighth day, you can start your business.” He said that Andhra Pradesh has skilled workforce and relationship between the Centre and the state is strong and harmonious. All in all, Naidu literally won the hearts of Japan firms and thanks to his Japanese version of short film.

Allegations and counter allegations are common in politics and political leaders depending on their stature level charges against each other. However Jagan Mohan Reddy levelling serious charges against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu is becoming bone of contention. 

He said people will stone Chandra Babu who deceived them with false promises. He questioned whether anyone can serve people as chief minister after gaining power by cheating people. TDP leaders are questioning usage of Jagan’s language asking people to stone Chandra Babu. 

They are saying if people have to stone Chandra Babu for not fulfilling his promises with in six months, in what manner people have to punish Jagan who is facing corruption charges amounting to crores.