By SNV Sudhir
In a significant development, the CII members and
representatives of Vizag Development Council (VDC) held a brainstorming session
on Tuesday on the representation to be forwarded to GoM set up by the Union
government to oversee the bifurcation process. They prepared a charter of
demands for the development of Seemandhra region.
This comes close on the heels of a closed door meeting
called by Union ministers D. Purandheswari and M.M. Pallamraju with the
select industrialists in the city a few days ago seeking opinions and suggestions
to develop residuary state.
The two union ministers were very vocal in support of the
decision taken by their party led UPA government on division of Andhra Pradesh.
Both were first among the Seemandhra leaders to talk about plans on development
of Seemandhra region after bifurcation and need to approach GoM.
“The union government should take every possible step to
protect the interests of the people of Andhra and Rayalaseema who are worried
on account of division of state. Besides granting special package, which is yet
to be announced, the government must clear some of the pending demands of
Andhra and Rayalaseema which are sectorally divided into Fund based and Non
Fund Based expectations from the Government in our report to the GoM. Regional Development Council which includes
the representatives of trade and commerce bodies should be formed with appropriately
to expedite development and enforce Single Window clearances,” said VDC and
Rushikonda IT Park Association (RITPA), vice president, O Naresh Kumar.
With November 5 deadline for sending suggestions
to the GoM, VDC along with CII sent their proposals through email.
Their demands included allocation of power from Central Grid
until proposed new units meet the requirement on date to domestic, industry and
agriculture 24X7, adequate gas from KG basin should be allocated to Andhra
Pradesh Power Plants and Industries on priority, incentives and special tax
concessions such as VAT, excise, central sales tax, Income tax and service tax
etc. for new units as well as the ones being relocated to this region, creation
of Free Trade zone at Vizag and Kakinada with concessions and facilities
like in Singapore or Dubai, facilitate early sanction of ITIR in Vizag
including National Manufacturing Investment zone among others.
Meanwhile a Vizag based NGO Chaitanya Sravanthi, working for
women empowerment also sent a report to GoM on Tuesday demanding special,
exclusive package for north Andhra.
“The Congress led UPA Government is going ahead with
its proposal without taking concern and fears of people in the region. It is
very important to win confidence of people to go ahead with it, without
allaying their fears and doubts, the proposal will receive stiff résistance
from people. As people are not ready to believe the political parties any
assurance or package will not be of much use. Hence it is important to involve
all stake-holders and take their views before finalizing the GOM report
.This will go a long way in winning the trust of people, and for this the
government should be sincere and should not give priority to political
consideration,” said Chaitanya Sravathi, chair person, Shireen Rehman.
She added that if the UPA succeeds in finalizing the
bifurcation it should consider an exclusive development package for north
Andhra, which is the most back wards region not only in the state but also in
the Country.
To give a fillip to development in North Andhra, Visakhapatnam , Which has
all infrastructure facilities, should be made capital a part from locating a
high court bench in this region, said that report of Chaitanya Sravanthi.
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