Date:21/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/21/stories/2008072151810300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

‘Governments failed to develop Rayalaseema’

Staff Reporter

Leaders, people urged to organise agitations

Awareness meeting on problems plaguing Rayalaseema held
More meetings to be organised in other Rayalaseema districts soon

Chittoor: Several speakers at an awareness meeting on the problems of Rayalaseema region, held here on Sunday, expressed their anguish against successive State governments for failure to take steps to develop backward districts of Rayalaseema even though several Chief Ministers hailed from the region.

Speaking on this occasion, BJP State vice-president and ‘sadassu’ convener N.P. Venkateswara Choudary said the meet is organised above political considerations and invited intellectuals, students, industrialists, women, social workers and representatives of people to seek their valuable suggestions on the development of the area in all sectors.

Further, he said that such meetings would be held in Anantapur, Kadapa and Kurnool districts.

After the completion of the district meetings, a public meeting will be held in Tirupati in which people from all walks of life can debate on the steps to be taken to develop the region economically, educationally, industrially – besides, improving irrigation water potentialities.

BJP district president Gutha Narayanaswamy Naidu presiding over the meeting during which he urged leaders and people to organise agitations for the development of the region.

Rs. 50,000 cr. package

Chilakam Ramachandra Reddy, former BJP State president, requested the government to announce Rs. 50,000 crore package for the development of the region.

BJP general secretary Santha Reddy urged the organisers to involve women in the programme and take up the fight against liquor and belt shops.

Linkage of rivers

Further, she said that water problem for drinking and irrigation in the region could be solved only with the linkage of rivers.

TDP State council member B.N. Rajasimhulu, TDP district vice-president Eswar Rao, and leader of farmers, K. Balakrishna Reddy, were among others who spoke.