Vijayawada: The cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday gave its clearance to the Andhra Pradesh Drone policy and approved several new initiatives of the TD-led state government.
The meeting gave its nod to the Prohibition of Land Grabbing Act 2024 that would ensure legal protection for land ownership. Clearances were given also for payments of pending bills related to water and tree plantation initiatives undertaken during the period between 2014 and 2018; the AP Goods and Services Tax (GST) 2024 Amendment Bill; and for a draft revision of the state's Excise Act.
The cabinet decided on steps for sustainable development of the Kuppam region by authorising the establishment of the Kuppam Area Development Authority. Similarly, the formation of the Pithapuram Area Development Authority was also approved.
The cabinet meeting was held at the state secretariat in Velagapudi. Briefing the media, Information minister Kolusu Parthasarathy said, “AP is moving fast towards transforming the state into a drone hub. For this purpose, the cabinet decided to set up a Drone Development Centre in Kurnool. This centre will be operated on a plug-and-play system. A training centre for drone pilots and a drone manufacturing unit also will be established there.
Parthasarathy said at least 100 drone manufacturing units will come up in the state. This would also facilitate the setting up of 20 drone pilot training centres and 50 skill development centres across the state.
The state government, he said, is expecting an investment of Rs 1,000 crore in this sector to provide direct employment to over 15,000 youths and indirect employment to another 25,000 persons. This would eventually generate a revenue of Rs 3,000 crore to the state per annum.
The cabinet also approved the Andhra Pradesh Data Centre Policy aiming at adding an additional 200 megawatt of data and attracting investments for setting up the most-modern data centres with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The meeting unanimously approved the AP Semiconductor and Display Fab policy, which will be in force between 2024 and 2029. The Centre will also extend a 50 per cent subsidy in a phased manner while the state government will provide an additional 30 per cent subsidy.
The cabinet gave its nod for a bill to revoke the AP Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act-1982 and replace it with the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill-2024. It has been formulated after a study of the laws existing in Gujarat and Karnataka. It carries provisions for protection of government lands.
The cabinet also approved a proposal to clear the dues of Rs 331 crore that the government owed to the contractors for the works they executed in the state. The state government is examining the possibility of clearing these dues with an additional 12 per cent interest.
The bill to increase the retirement age of judicial officers covered under the AP Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation) Act-1984 from the present 60 years to 61, effective from November 1, 2024, was also cleared by the cabinet.
Also approved were the draft bill for amendments to the AP Goods and Services Act-2017 along with the AP Prohibition (amendment) ordinance-2024 as also the ordinance styled as Regulations on Indian-Made Foreign Liquor-2024.
The minister explained, "The cabinet cleared a proposal to revive the Kuppam Area Development Authority in Chittoor district and formation of the Pithapuram Area Development Authority with Pithapuram as its headquarters."
The cabinet agreed to implement the decisions taken by the state government for constructing an outer ring road and bypass roads in Amaravati and Vijayawada East.
These apart, the government is planning to construct an 189-km-long outer ring road, which will be linked to expressways, economic corridors, national highways and state highways, besides ports, along with airports and other areas.
The cabinet also approved a proposal to bring the Sattenapalli municipality, 92 villages in Palnadu district and 62 villages in Bapatla district in the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) limits.
