Ex-IAS official derides AP govt

Visakhapatnam: The extension of the jurisdiction of Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) from 5,048 sq km to 7,328 sq km has kicked up a row with a former IAS officer threatening to approach court against inclusion of six scheduled area villages.

Noted social activist and ex-IAS officer EAS Sarma told Bizz Buzz on Wednesday that the decision to include six villages in Nathavaram mandal was in contravention of laws. He said the entire mandal is rich in laterite deposits. Names of several bigwigs are allegedly involved in illegal mining of laterite, a rusty mineral in red color rich in iron and aluminium.

Due to restrictions on mining bauxite ore in the scheduled areas, the main raw material for alumina refineries, there has been talk that laterite is in high demand. Alumina refinery set up by Anrak Aluminium Limited at Rachapalli in Makavarapalem mandal, about 100 km from here, is not able to launch production despite installation of machinery a few years ago at a cost of Rs.5,000 crore.

Sarma said inclusion of six villages in Nathavaram mandal is unilateral and if the government fails to exclude in the VMRDA limits, he will be forced to approach court for justice.

As per the government's plan, VMRDA is supposed work on the lines of erstwhile Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA), formed during TDP rule to develop Amaravati, after a proposal was cleared to make Visakhapatnam the executive capital as part of three-capital plan to achieve decentralised development by the YSR Congress Party Government.

In a letter to Adityanath Das, Chief Secretary of AP, Sarma said in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of section (3) of the AP Metropolitan Region and Urban Development Authorities Act, 2016, the MA&UD Dept has issued GO Ms No 20 dated March 23, 2021, enlarging the area of operation of the VMRDA to include 13 mandals of "non-agency areas" of Visakhapatnam district.

As per the latest GO, VMRDA which has 19 mandals of Visakhapatnam and 17 mandals of Vizianagaram districts, will have additionally 13 mandals.

While commenting that though the intention of the government seemed to exclude villages in the scheduled areas of the district, he found at least six scheduled villages of Nathavaram mandal finding their place in the list mentioned in the said GO.

The villages in question include Chammachinta, Dharmavaram Agraharam, Kalavavoddu Sarabhavaram, Kuruvada, Pottinagannadora Palem and Sarugudu.

Sarma said six villages find a place in the list of scheduled villages of Visakhapatnam district.