Latest news with #PolavaramProject
The Print
a day ago
- Politics
- The Print
Andhra Pradesh Congress chief demands answers from PM Modi on fate of bifurcation promises
The APCC president noted that the people of Andhra Pradesh are anguished over unfulfilled bifurcation promises such as according special category status to the state and others. PM Modi is scheduled to arrive in Visakhapatnam today to participate in the 11th International Yoga Day on Saturday morning. Amaravati, June 20 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila on Friday demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the fate of promises made during Andhra Pradesh bifurcation, as he is poised to participate in the International Yoga Day in the state. 'Modi is coming and going from Visakhapatnam… but what happened to bifurcation promises? It has already been 10 years, and the special category status is a right from the bifurcation (of united Andhra Pradesh),' said Sharmila in a press release. Alleging that Modi cheated the state, she noted that the PM was not even responding to the issue of the special category status, and claimed that though 'Modi is deceiving', TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu and Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan are continuing to support him. According to Sharmila, Modi has also 'cheated' the state with respect to the height of Polavaram Project by lowering the dam's height from 45 m to 41 m. Likewise, she alleged that the state was deceived in the Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) issue also, asserting that it was promised that the industry would not be privatised but it is getting 'sold'. Claiming that there was no change in stance over VSP, Sharmila alleged that 4,000 workers were fired. Further, questioning the need to build a capital with 'debts', referring to greenfield capital city Amaravati, she asserted that Naidu and Kalyan are backing Modi even though he is 'backstabbing'. 'Is Yogandhra needed when there is no attention for people's problems,' she said. Moreover, she assailed YSRCP supremo YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for allegedly making provocative statements. She claimed that Reddy has Modi's support, which is why all his 'actions are being condoned'. Meanwhile, there was immediate reaction from the TDP. PTI STH SA This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hans India
a day ago
- Business
- Hans India
SIPB okays projects worth Rs. 28,546-crore investment
Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who chaired the 7th State-level Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) meeting on Thursday, approved 19 projects involving Rs 28,546 crore investment in total. He declared that additional incentives would be provided to industries and projects located in the state's backward regions. The projects cleared on Thursday are expected to create employment opportunities for 30,270 individuals. So far, across the seven SIPB meetings, approvals have been given to projects involving investments totaling Rs 5,34,684 crore, generating job prospects for 4,73,969 people. The Chief Minister emphasised that establishing industries would spur development in those regions, create employment for locals, and ensure balanced prosperity across the state. The Chief Minister stressed that locals should receive majority of jobs in the upcoming industrial projects in the state. Therefore, skill development for youth should be treated as a core policy objective, he added. The Chief Minister reiterated that the coalition government was committed to balanced development across all regions of Andhra Pradesh. Naidu also made it clear that companies, which were given land, must establish their units within the stipulated timeline. He instructed officials to engage in discussions with representatives of such companies. He mentioned that MSME parks were being established in every Assembly constituency across the state. They should be utilised to promote entrepreneurs under the 'One Family – One Entrepreneur' initiative. Naidu also said that tourism, IT, and food processing industries should become key drivers of development. He noted that the State currently had immense potential in these sectors and called for promoting entrepreneurship accordingly. He proposed developing boat tourism projects near Papikondalu along with the Polavaram Project. He instructed officials to explore operating luxury boats and cruise ships in Visakhapatnam and other coastal areas of the state in collaboration with interested companies. The Chief Minister underlined that various companies that had signed MoUs in the hospitality sector should expedite their construction work. He directed that necessary infrastructure be developed near industrial projects.
Hans India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
A tightrope walk as debt burden weighs
Vijayawada: It has been a tightrope walk for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led National Democratic Alliance government in Andhra Pradesh, which is completing one year in office on Thursday (today), and its Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. Though the government under the leadership of Naidu initiated a slew of measures to boost economic growth and implemented welfare schemes, it had to work against all odds given the debt burden that weighed on the State. Naidu, who assumed charge as of AP Chief Minister for the fourth time on June 12, 2024, frequently said he started off with a millstone around his neck. He pointed out that the previous government had pushed the state back by 30 years, burdening it with Rs 10 lakh crore in debts and another Rs 1.2 lakh crore in unpaid bills. 'The annual interest alone stands at Rs 40,000 crore,' he remarked when the NDA government assumed office. Looking back, the Chief Minister said recently: 'Brick by brick, we are rebuilding the devastated state and in just one year, we have shown what good governance looks like by giving priority to both welfare and development.' Minister for Information and Public Relations K Parthasarathi told Hans India that the one-year period of the NDA government focused on both welfare and development. He said both Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and IT Minister Nara Lokesh aimed at wealth creation and uplift of the poor, simultaneously implementing welfare schemes. He said the coalition government had laid a solid foundation for the benefit of future generations. To begin with, the NDA government enhanced the old age pension to Rs 4,000 per month. Apart from that, it has been distributing pension amounts of Rs 6,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 to various categories of people including physically challenged. The state government is spending a whopping Rs 33,000 crore a year on pensions to 64 lakh people. No other state government pays such high pension amounts in the country. In addition, under Deepam 2, the NDA government is giving three free LPG cylinders per year to women. Besides, the state government revived 73 central schemes, though the previous government had diverted central funds, resulting in AP being blacklisted. The NDA government is now planning to provide free solar rooftops to 20 lakh SC/ST houses under PM Surya Ghar Yojana. Upon taking office, the NDA govt repealed the Land Titling Act that had removed protection for people's lands and introduced a new Anti-Land Grabbing Act. With the Centre's support, the state government put the much-awaited Polavaram Project back on track. The project will now be completed by December 2027.
Hans India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
11 years of NDA governance marks Amrit Kaal for a Viksit Bharat
India before 2014 was in a state of despair. The economy was slowing down, and citizens suffered from a lack of quality education, employment, and livelihood opportunities. Corruption was rampant, law and order had deteriorated, horrific incidents like Nirbhaya had become too frequent, Naxalite violence was widespread, stone-pelting in Kashmir was common, uncertainty loomed over the nation, while bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh led to political and regional unrest. By 2025 India is poised to become the world's third-largest economy. It is home to world-class institutes in healthcare and technical education, attracting massive investments and industries. Corruption has declined significantly. Across the country, world-class infrastructure is emerging — engineering marvels like the Chenab Bridge, resolution of long-standing issues in Kashmir and Ayodhya, the writing on the wall for Naxalism, and a bifurcated Andhra Pradesh is progressing on a developmental path. The transformation between 2014 and 2025 From a state of hopelessness and darkness, the country has been infused with life and brought into the light — and this was made possible by one powerful force: the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Today marks 11 years of NDA governance. After independence, due to the neglect of past governments, India — which had the potential to be a superpower — remained a poor nation. In the past 11 years, the NDA government has corrected the historic policy errors driven by vote-bank politics and is steering India towards global leadership. In Andhra Pradesh, under NDA rule from 2014–2018, the Polavaram Project witnessed unprecedented progress, reaching 72 per cent completion by 2019, thanks to the double-engine government. In contrast, under the YSRCP from 2019 to 2024, progress was only 3.84 per cent. In just one year of renewed double-engine governance, progress reached 5.93 per cent, exceeding the total of the previous five years. Not just Polavaram — Amaravati's development also regained momentum. Over ₹70,000 crore worth of works were initiated in just one year. This is the power of double-engine governance and the determination of development-driven leadership. The divided Andhra Pradesh is now progressing at jet speed. Progress visible in numbers When you water a plant every day, you don't notice how much it grows. But if you compare the sapling to the tree it has become, the growth is astounding. That's India's story in the last 11 years — from a sapling to a towering growth. While we may not see the change on an everyday basis, the world does — and acknowledges India as a rising superpower. In 2014, India's nominal GDP was around $2.1 trillion. By 2025–26, it is expected to nearly double at $4.3 trillion. India has surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy. According to IMF estimates, the GDP in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms will be $17.365 trillion in 2025, making it the third-largest economy after China and the USA — a huge leap from its 20th position just 11 years ago. India's global image skyrockets Operation Sindoor against Pakistan showcased India's strong foreign policy. Though countries like China and Turkey supported Pakistan, the rest of the world stood with India, condemning the attack and praising the response. Support for Pakistan stems from geopolitical insecurities or ideological extremism — not genuine solidarity. While some internal critics parrot enemy narratives, India under Modi's leadership is now recognised as the third-strongest global power. With the goal of a $5 trillion economy, Modi is committed to making India a developed nation. Internal development boosts image India is a union of states, and Modi's 'Team India' vision has ensured inclusive development across all states. Over 11 years, world-class infrastructure has been built. Through Bharatmala Pariyojana, economic corridors, inter-corridors, feeder routes, and border roads were developed. Over 50,000 km of national highways were constructed, with the daily pace increasing from 12 km to 33.8 km. In Phase-1 alone, ₹5.35 lakh crore was invested to build 34,800 km of roads, connecting 550 districts via 4-lane highways. Coastal infrastructure, new ports, and economic zones received heavy investments. By 2035, 610 projects worth ₹7.78 lakh crore are planned, with 241 completed and 234 under construction by 2023. Iconic projects like the 1,386-km Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, and the Chenab Bridge are symbols of the country's engineering prowess. The Smart Cities Mission, launched in 2015, aimed to transform 100 cities into sustainable, liveable urban spaces. By 2024, 6,753 out of 7,991 projects were completed at a cost of ₹1.64 lakh crore. Massive focus was placed on key projects like Navi Mumbai airport, Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train, Polavaram, PM Gati Shakti Master Plan, and national highway expansion. From 2014 to 2025, India saw tremendous growth in transport, urban development, ports, and digital infrastructure. Under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), ₹111 lakh crore was allocated between 2020–2025, accelerating economic growth and paving the way for developed-nation status by 2047. Development is as crucial as welfare True welfare means empowering the vulnerable, not vote-bank politics. In 11 years, India achieved what others couldn't in 60 years earlier. Through PM Awas Yojana, three crore additional homes are being built, securing shelter for 25 crore poor. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan brought sanitation to over 10 crore households. Ayushman Bharat benefited over 10 crore families with health coverage. PM Ujjwala Yojana delivered 10+ crore LPG connections by 2024, freeing women from harmful cooking practices. PM-KISAN transferred over ₹2.5 lakh crore directly to 12+ crore farmers. Jal Jeevan Mission connected over 15.6 crore rural households with tap water. PM Mudra Yojana offered collateral-free loans to crores of small and micro-entrepreneurs, particularly women and SC/ST founders. Atal Pension Yojana supported unorganized sector workers with financial security. A visionary, decisive leadership that puts the nation first has achieved miracles in just 11 years. If this pace is consolidated and sustained, India will emerge as a developed nation and a true global leader in the coming decade. (The writer is Vice-President of BJP, Andhra Pradesh)
Hans India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
AP Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu inspects Polavaram, says work on schedule
Andhra Pradesh Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu has assured that the construction of the Polavaram Project is proceeding as planned. During a recent inspection of the project, he observed that the diaphragm wall construction is advancing rapidly. Minister Ramanaidu addressed the media, highlighting that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has personally reviewed the project on three occasions. The government aims to complete the project by the end of 2027, with expectations that the buttress dam work will be finalised in time to allow continued progress during the rainy season. He noted that over 80 percent of the Polavaram head works have already been successfully completed. 'If the work is progressing swiftly, it is only false narratives being circulated,' Ramanaidu stated. He added that there have been claims from YSRCP ministers questioning their understanding of the project and its timeline. 'The Chief Minister is actively accelerating the project's progress, and we will not compromise on the quality of the Polavaram construction,' Ramanaidu affirmed.
