Botsa Satyanarayana hints at a rethink on Amaravati capital viability

Visakhapatnam: Municipal minister Botsa Satyanarayana said that there was a need to discuss about the viability of capital region Amaravati as most of the area was hit by floods. He made these comments responding to a question from the media about Amaravati being a viable option as state capital.

Speaking to mediapersons in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, Mr Satyanarayana said, “A discussion should be held about the capital after the floods recede and normalcy is achieved. The Sivarama Krishnan committee had said that the region was not suitable for being made a capital, but the then TD government still selected it and went ahead. If construction should continue in capital region, then we have to come up with several check dams and other ideas to divert floodwater. In some areas, we are still pumping out floodwaters. I feel all these points should be discussed. Some people have made a lot of money from the capital region by collecting double the amounts in all works.”

The minister also lashed out at Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu, saying that the former chief minister ran away to Hyderabad during a crisis. He said, “As his house was filled with floodwater, he has run away to Hyderabad. The government has taken all precautionary measures. People were evacuated on time. Naidu is concentrating more on drones and not bothered about public safety.”

He also flayed the statement of former minister Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao criticising Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, saying, “He has no idea of what he is saying. Mr Reddy is continuously in touch with ministers and is monitoring the flood situation.”