AP to speed up land pooling

Unnerved by the opposition campaign against pooling 30,000 acres for construction of a new capital, the Andhra Pradesh (AP) government has decided to complete the process by month end. 

The government has set a target of acquiring 1,500 acres per day. Guntur collector Kantilala Dande, who held a meeting with revenue officials on Tuesday, said 13,000 acres has been pooled and the rest will be completed at a faster pace. Deputy Chief Minister K E Krishna Murty will be visiting Tullur on Wednesday to review the progress.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with advisors from Singapore, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the models of development suggested by the consultants.  During the meeting, the consultants said they would assist the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) to focus on key areas such as infrastructure planning, development control, housing, solid waste management and integrated transport systems.

The advisors said that state government has to make the environment conducive for private investors through policy changes and faster clearances. 

The chief minister has asked the Singapore government to work with AP officials on solid waste management and on revamping municipalities.

As part of the partnerships between AP and Singapore, officials from both sides will work with the CRDA on identifying local growth engines and revenue generators. 

The consultants suggested the chief minister to hire people and train them in order to build capacities. The advisors also highlighted that the capital region has a lot of potential for private sector investments.