Now, AP repeals 3 Capitals Bill

Vijayawada/Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday passed the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of all Regions Repeal Bill 2021 by voice vote. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy told the House, the Bill had to be brought in to strengthen the existing provisions and address various issues including legal matters and widen its scope to benefit the larger section of the society. He said that the government would bring in a comprehensive and improvised Decentralisation Bill, elaborating the good intentions of the Bill, and incorporating all answers of public queries, legal matters within the Bill. The Bill passed on Monday repeals the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of all Regions Act 2020 and the AP Capital Region Development Authority Repeal Act 2020 Act. The Chief Minister said that if the process of three capitals had begun on time, soon after passing the Bills it would have shown good results by now, as the decentralisation was intended to provide equal development of three regions which is in line with the Sri Bagh Pact.

However, the government's intention behind this had been twisted, distorted, and being misled amidst legal hurdles for the past two years, he said.

'My predecessor Chandrababu Naidu took the controversial decision on capital in violation Sri Krishna Committee recommendations and pooled about 50,000 acres of land for capital. I have nothing against this region and my house is here and I love this region. But this region is neither in Vijayawada nor in Guntur and both about 30 to 40 km away,' he said

Reddy said he had high regards for Amaravati and its people and the decision to develop three districts was aimed at ensuring balanced development of all regions. Legal hurdles faced by the YSRCP Government are believed to be responsible for the decision to come out with the new legislation.

Earlier in the day, many were taken by surprise with the 'disclosure' by Advocate General Subrahmanyam Sriram in the AP High Court through an affidavit that the government had decided to withdraw the bill. It led to speculation mainly in web channels, portals and social media that the three-capital plan is dropped.