Transit accommodation GO on capital shift opens Pandora’s box

• Employee unions concerned about transfers, disruptions caused by the relocation
• This move will promote development in the north coastal region: AP govt
• Opposition parties allege that the capital is being shifted illegally
• Shifting capital will not benefit people unless govt also improves its outreach and accountability, say critics

Visakhapatnam: The issuance of GO 2283 for relocating various departments and chambers of Ministers and Heads of Departments (HoDs) to Visakhapatnam has generated a lot of heat in Andhra Pradesh with the Opposition questioning the rationale behind capital shifting under the garb of ‘transit’ accommodation to help the government to review and implement various schemes in north coastal area.

While the YSRCP strongly defended the decision saying it will ensure speedy development of the region, the Opposition parties have dubbed as a ploy to divert public attention with an eye on ensuing elections, due in next few months. “They are jealous of our rising popularity and the TDP-Jana Sena Party combine is spreading rumours that there will be flight of investments mainly in IT domain following the decision to locate various departments in Millennium Tower-A and B, iconic IoT-enabled buildings built on Rushikonda hills. Our decision will bring more projects to the region and give a fillip to development,” said Minister for Industries and Commerce Gudivada Amarnath.

The Opposition parties’ contend that various buildings have been identified by the committee of secretaries formed by the government to provide ‘transit’ accommodation just to circumvent the court order.

“Mere shifting of the capital to Visakhapatnam will not help unless it also involves the government offices reaching out to people to address their problems and enhancing public accountability and transparency in governance. Unless ‘air-conditioned’ culture, government functioning controlled by contractors and the ‘ruler-subject’ approach changes, shifting the capital means little to the ordinary people, except creating traffic congestion, water scarcity and disturbance to the peaceful environment of Visakhapatnam,” Social activist and former IAS officer EAS Sarma told Bizz Buzz.

“As the issue is pending before the Supreme Court, they (government) did not mention shifting to Visakhapatnam to make it the executive capital any of the GOs issued recently. On several occasions, the Chief Minister had said that he will relocate to the city to make it seat of administration,” pointed out TDP national general secretary N Lokesh. Party spokesman Pattabhiram told the media here that the people of North Andhra are aware of the hasty manner in which the government wants to open various offices after building beachfront mansions at Rushikonda by demolishing APTDC’s popular resorts by spending crores of rupees to house the Chief Minister’s (camp) Office.

The employees of AP Secretariat at Velagapudi are in a state of confusion with the threat of transfers in the middle of academic year. A leader of employees’ association said that they have not been informed about the decision to open various offices in Visakhapatnam. The Joint Action Committee of Amaravati Farmers, which is continuing an agitation to maintain status quo demanding the dropping of the decision on trifurcation of the capital, is also planning to approach the court to restrain the government from relocating various offices in Visakhapatnam.

The Chief Minister in September had sprang a surprise by putting at rest speculation that he will shift during Dasara and made it very clear that sometime in December, he will relocate.

CPI (M) State secretary V Srinivasa Rao said there the capital is being shifted to Visakhapatnam in a clandestine manner and wondered why so many offices will be relocated just to facilitate officials and Ministers to attend review meetings entailing a huge burden on the exchequer. CPI State secretary K Ramakrishna decried the move saying the GO should not have been issued at a time when the issue (formation of three capitals) is pending before the Supreme Court.