'Ashtami' stops Naidu from Capital disclosure

HYDERABAD: The key announcement on the new capital of Andhra Pradesh by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on the floor of the House was deferred as the day happened to be 'Ashtami', which is considered inauspicious. Now, the announcement would be made on September 4, which is falling on 'Dashami', considered to be very auspicious.

Naidu was supposed to make a formal announcement on Tuesday confirming Vijayawada as the new capital on the floor of the House. But the formal announcement was deferred as Tuesday happens to be thithi Asthami.

Moreover, leader of the Opposition YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had gone to Idupulapaya for the death anniversary of his father and former Chief Minister late YS Rajasekhara Reddy and making announcement in the absence of LoP would be against the practice of the House and hence the announcement was deferred.

It is learnt that Naidu's close aide and Rajahmundry MP Murali Mohan advised him that as Tuesday is falling on 'Ashtami', an important announcement like new capital of the state should not be made on such a day. Naidu after discussing the issue with his cabinet colleagues decided to make the announcement on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the government has expressed its unhappiness over the Sivaramakrishnan Committee report, which talked against Vijayawada as the capital. It is learnt that Naidu is adamant that the new capital city should be developed between Krishna and Guntur districts.

It is being said that Naidu had told his cabinet members that the report's suggestions were only advisory and not mandatory.

Tarakarama Nagar:

Meanwhile, agriculture minister Patthipati Pulla Rao told media in the assembly lobbies that the party was planning to name the capital after former chief minister and party founder late Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao.

The new capital needs adequate land bank for facilities and infrastructure, he said and added that farmers in Krishna district are ready to give about 8,000 acres for the new capital if the government names the new capital as Tarakarama Nagar on the lines of Gujarat's capital being Gandhinagar.

ALL OFFICES IN VIJAYAWADA

The state government on Tuesday issued a circular to all departments to shift their offices to Vijayawada. The government which is preparing to shift the key departments to Vijayawada shortly also directed the officials to come up with estimations.

They were asked to submit their proposals for shifting. The officials have been asked to send a detailed report about their department's requirements and suggestions to the government. Details of number of employees needed to work in various departments and other important information was sought by the government.

THEY DON'T WANT TO SHIFT

AP employees working in Hyderabad, numbering around 20,000 in 53 departments, are not enthusiastic about shifting to Vijayawada, citing lack of proper infrastructure.

The employees' reluctance to shift has already upset Naidu's plans of setting up the temporary capital as not a single officer has shifted since the announcement nearly a fortnight ago.

Moreover, employees are now worried that the government might relocate some of the State-level offices to other districts due to pressure from the public and political leaders. Against this background, the Sivaramakrishnan committee report has only muddled the situation further.

MEDHA TOWERS IS THE ADDRESS

Chandrababu Naidu had earlier announced that Vijayawada would be the temporary capital and from October 2, the AP government will start functioning from Medha Towers, located opposite Gannavaram airport.

With the cabinet giving green signal for making areas in and around Vijayawada, the State government was planning to shift all the departments on a permanent basis.

To begin with, the heads of all departments will be housed in Medha Towers. In the first phase, transport, irrigation, fisheries and animal husbandry departments as well as the directorate of town planning will be established in the building by October 2.