Purandeswari port ‘lobby’ triggers fury, Vziag people sore over former MP not taking up case of Nakkapalli

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, March 9, 2014: Union minister, Jairam Ramesh’s comments against former union minister, Daggupati Purandeswari, regarding her ‘lobby’ for a major port at Ramayapatnam in Prakasam district,  has come as a shocker for local people.

They also feel let down as Purandesawari, who represented Vizag as its MP for the last 5 years has lobbied for Ramayapatnam, instead of Nakkapalli in the district, which was one of the three sites selected for a major port by a high level technical team appointed by union government during 2012-13. 

There were also protests by local opposition MLAs and an all party delegation too met the then chief minister, N Kiran Kumar Reddy asking him to recommend Nakkapalli instead of Ramayapatnam or Dugarajapatnam in Nellore district.

Interestingly talking to reporters on Saturday, Purandeswari admitted that she had raised the issue of developing a port at Ramayapatnam before AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Reacting to purandeswari meeting BJP top leaders and joining the saffron party, jairam Ramesh on Friday said  “Purandeswari is a traitor. She cheated the party after enjoying all honors and the privileges as Minister and Congress leader. She has purchased thousands of acres of lands at Ramayapatnam in the state and demands the government to construct port there only. But, when we have declined her proposal and Dugarajapatnam was selected, she is quitting the party blaming for dividing the state. If so, why she joining BJP that has supported the bifurcation bill?”

 While the state government recommended Ramayapatnam, in Prakasam district instead of Nakkapalli in Vizag, in a surprise pick union government finalized Duggirajapatnam.

Vizag port is the only major port in the state though Andhra Pradesh has tremendous potential to handle foreign trade though sea due to its vast coast line of 996kms. In order to tap the foreign trade opportunities state government has approached the union government with a proposal for a second major port when the Centre announced its maritime agenda for the next decade 2010-20.

Three places were shortlisted for the proposed port, Nakkapalli in Vizag district,
Ramayapatnam in Prakasam district and Duggirajapatnam in Nellore district. A high-level central committee visited the three places for almost six months last year and the report was also submitted. Later the state government wrote to Centre recommending Ramaypatnam, which irked the opposition parties. 

There were reports that ISRO and the defence officials reportedly raised security concerns as SHAR is near to Duggirajapatnam and Nakkapalli is close to Naval Alternative Operations Base (NAOB).

“ This is what happens if we elect some outsider.  We need a strong local leader otherwise I don’t see future for north Andhra and Vizag. Will a tourist politician care for anything? I thought she will be an asset for Vizag she is ditching everyone now,” said an angry Aditya Sameer Guduru.

 Purandeswari’s lobby for Ramayapatnam also started trending on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter where local youngsters vented their ire.