Several political parties and social organisations have expressed their displeasure, alleging the Andhra Pradesh government’s ‘indifference’ to people’s aspirations in the process of district reorganisation.
Alleging injustice to the backward Rayalaseema region as less number of districts were carved out than the ‘actual requirement’, Rayalaseema Intellectuals Forum convener M. Purushotham Reddy accused the government of acting against the spirit of reorganisation.
“Rayalaseema region has 32% of the State’s population and 35% of the total land area. It should have been made into 12 districts. However, the government has confined it to eight, paying no heed to suggestions of the people,” said Purushotham Reddy.
Post-reorganisation, every district has 6,000 sq.km, but the Rayalaseema districts have 9,000 sq.km. The districts carved out from Anantapur have 11,000 sq.km.
“This is objectionable. The process has further tilted the balance in favour of well-developed coastal districts, rendering injustice to Rayalaseema. The government have to pay the price for going against people’s aspirations,” said Mr. Purushotham Reddy.
Meanwhile, CPI Chittoor district secretary A. Rama Naidu criticised the government alleging that political parties had not been invited for the inaugural of the new district Collectorate buildings slated for Monday. “We have fought for over three decades on several issues, including the demand for Tirupati district. But, the YSRCP government is belittling us and trying to take all the credit for the reorganisation process,” he said.
