RAYALASEEMA JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE

#40, Maruthi Nagar, Yousufguda, Hyderabad 500 045, rjac1913@gmail.com, Face Book Page : Rayalaseema Joint Action Committee
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To July 9, 2014
Sri K. C. Siva Ramakrishnan, IAS (Retd.)
Expert Committee
Centre-State Division,
Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India,
5th Floor, NDCC II Building,
Jaisingh Road, N.Delhi 110001


Sir,
Sub: - Presentation of our views on selection of new capital for the state
of Andhra Pradesh Regarding

1. We welcome the appointment of an Expert Committee of Shri K.C. Siva
Ramakrishnan. IAS (Retd.) to study the various alternatives available for the
creation of a new Capital for the successor state of Andhra Pradesh by the Home
Secretary on April 25, 2014.

2. We thank you for visiting Tirupathi, the world famous Hindu religious centre to
study the various alternatives available for the creation of new capital and seek
public opinion.

3. On the outset we bring to your notice that Rayalaseema Joint Action Committee
(RJAC) working for the betterment of drought prone, scanty rainfall zone of
Rayalaseema, part of Prakasam (erstwhile Kurnool & Nellore Districts) and
Nellore District. The RJAC has interacted with various social organisations in the
above mentioned 6 districts and initiated a delegates meet at Nandyal on July 2,
2014 to discuss on various issues including location of new Capital in the back
ground of bifurcation of the Andhra Pradesh State.

4. The round table conference after discussing at length on new capital for Andhra
Pradesh state in the back drop of history, economical status of the region,
advantage and various favourable infrastructure facilities available as mentioned
detailed below, passed resolution unanimously to demand Government to
establish new capital at Kurnool.




5. HISTORICAL REASONS :-

A. In the 1930s the agitation for the establishment of a separate Andhra state
from the Madras Presidency was gaining momentum.
B. The leaders from Rayalaseema were apprehensive that the Coastal areas
were likely to take focus the growth and not cater to the water and
development needs of Rayalaseema. The need to create a separate state for
Rayalaseema was felt and demands were made to declare Rayalaseema a
separate state within the then British India.
C. In order to focus their efforts and to ensure the creation of a state for Telugu
speakers the political leaders from both the regions met in Madras and
reached an agreement to safeguard the interests of Rayalaseema. This
agreement is now known as the Sri Bagh Pact.
D. The essence of Sri Bagh Pact was to safeguard the interests on
Rayalaseema. The mare areas of focus were irrigation, education institutions
and either the state capital or high court with the option to choice either of the
institutes left to the leaders of Rayalaseema.
E. Accordingly Rayalaseema has selected Capital and Kurnool was made the
Capital of Andhra state in 1953.
F. After the formation of Andhra Pradesh, with the merger of Telangana region
with Andhra state the state capital was shifted to Hyderabad.
G. Now with the separation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh, the residual
Andhra Pradesh State was formed with the same geographical region of old
Andhra state.
H. The economic position of the Rayalaseema Region has not improved in
combined Andhra Pradesh State but has further deteriorated.
I. So, it is just in the back drop of historical back ground and Sri Bagh Pact
Kurnool is the natural Choice as a capital for the residual state of Andhra
Pradesh.

6. AVAILABILITY OF NATURAL RESOURCES:-

A. Land Availability:

a. There is 55000 acres Government land available in and around Kurnool
district within 60 to 75 kms radius of Kurnool Town.
b. As abundant Government land is available there is no need for investment
on land.
c. Private lands are available at reasonable price compare to highly
economically and socially developed coastal regions.
d. As the lands are rocky in nature, highly suitable for high rise buildings and
low expenditure on foundations.

B. Water Availability:

a. Kurnool has accesses to Thungabadra river which is one of the major
Subsidiaries to Krishna River.
b. Krishna river flows through Kurnool district.
c. Confluence of Thungabadra and Krishna river is very close to Kurnool
town.
d. The nerve centre of Krishna water distribution for Telangana,
Rayalaseema and Coastal A P is Srisailam Project, located in Kurnool
District.
e. The drinking water needs of the capital city can be easily met by drawing
water from Srisailam Reservoir.




7. CONNECTIVITY:

A. Road Connectivity:
a. Kurnool is on Hyderabad Bengaluru National highway.
b. Kurnool is well connected with Chennai.
c. Kurnool is well connected with all districts of Rayalaseema and districts of
Coastal Andhra.

B. Rail Connectivity:
Kurnool is well connected with Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai,
Bellary and Goa.

C. Air Connectivity:
a. International Airport at Shamshabad is 2 hours by road.
b. The new airport can be built within 20 kilometres of Kurnool at Orvakal.

D. Rapid Mass Transit Systems.
Kurnool with its wide roads makes it convenient to establish Rapid Bus Transit
systems (BRTS). BRTS systems apart from being light on capital are also
quicker to establish. In places where the roads are narrow its cheaper to
acquire the land for these purposes given the low land rates in the city.

8. SUSTAINABILITY

The lands around Kurnool depend on rainfall for cultivation and therefore the
agricultural productivity is very low therefore even if these lands were to be
acquired later for the expansion of the capital area it would not affect the food
security of the state and the nation.
The region around Kurnool is also sparsely populated therefore the
displacement of the people for the construction of the capital would be at a
minimum. There are no water bodies apart from the two rivers which met close
to the proposed capital.
The area of Kurnool is unaffected by cyclones or earthquakes. The region is
classified as a low risk (zone I) according to the geological survey of India.
While there have been concerns raised about the fact that Kurnool is
vulnerable to flooding i.e: the floods of 2009. This was an unprecedented event
where an unprecedented water of over 26 lacs cusecs was discharged from
Srisailam. The Hindu in its news report on October 21, 2009 described this as
maximum probable flood in the Krishna River that occurs once in 10,000 years.
Even during this event there were parts of the town which were not affected by
the flooding.




9. LOW COST OF ESTABLISHMENT OF CAPITAL

A. As previously stated the availability of large amount of government land
ensures that the new capital can be established with negligible amount of
capital expenditure being spent on the acquisition of land.
B. The huge reserves of lime stone in the area makes it convenient for the
government to establishment a government owned and run cement factory. A
large amount of money can be saved by the government which would
otherwise have to spend on cement purchases from the private players at
unreasonably high monopoly prices.
C. Due to low productivity of the land and lack of access to assured water. The
region witnesses temporary migration of over 30 lacs people every year. With
the establishment of the capital at Kurnool all this skilled and unskilled labour
(most of them construction workers who ply their trades in Bangalore,
Chennai and Hyderabad.) can now be retained in Kurnool.

Given the circumstance and the reasons stated above we hope that the committee
recommends Kurnool for the establishment of the new Capital of the residual state of
Andhra Pradesh.


Yours Sincerely


For Rayalaseema Joint Action Committee



Bojja Dasaratha Rami Reddy
Convenor