Non-transparent way of CRDA created troubles for AP

Vijayawada: Despite assurances by the Chief Minister and also the schedule announced by the government, the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) has not been able to keep up its words on finalising the name of the master architect, address issues generated out of objections over compensation to the island farmland farmers and assigned land farmers.

Apart from this, the CRDA did not arrive at clarity over the funding and funding agencies those gave come forward to extend the assistance.

The non-transparent way of CRDA has prompted the government to land in troubles all along the year, and the New Year also is not bringing in any supportive mechanism to CRDA.

The confusion over the figures related to financial assistance to capital Amaravati irked CRDA commissioner Dr Cherukuri Sreedhar for a few minutes in the interactive session organised by CRDA in the last month.

While the CRDA media adviser’s communiqué issued in the last month itself suggested that Amaravati was to get Rs 17,500 crore financial assistance, the CRDA commissioner on Friday said it was Rs 14,500 crore. When asked about the gap between the figures stated by two senior officers from the same department, the commissioner had to face embarrassment.

However, he stated that there was a lengthy process in release of funds from the financial institutions, as it has to undergo three stages-commitments, documentation and finally release of funds.

The commissioner said the Central government sanctioned Rs 2,500 crore, Hudco likely to sanction Rs 7,500 crore and the World Bank $1 Billion, including $500 million, in first phase for development of Amaravati capital city.

He said Andhra Bank had come up with a proposal to support Amaravati with a loan of Rs 5,000 crore, and that proposal was under examination. He said the UK was likely to sanction billion dollars, including on private sector infrastructure.

He said keeping in view the future demand, land was reserved in Mangalagiri for the development of an airport. The commissioner clarified that under no circumstance, would the existing villages be disturbed.

All these things took place more than a month ago, and still now the CRDA is not in a position to disseminate the exact facts about the stages of the financial assistance and the names of the financial institutions.