Ap 3 Capitals Issue

3 years ago

Who, in the issue of State Capital of Andhra Pradesh, are going win? The
Government of Andhra Pradesh or, the farmers who gave their lands under land pooling scheme for construction of new Capital for Andhra Pradesh 5 years ago.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 has done some land pooling in 29 villages around the proposed Amaravati Capital region and established an authority by name Capital Region Development Authority under the CRDA Act, 2014. Under this, the Authority would get some land under land pooling scheme for the development of new Capital by name Amaravati with the boundaries within those 29 villages and pay rents to the land owners and finally handover the land after completion of Capital Development Project. This was done in front of the public and all agreements were made for this complete issue.

In 2019, there were General Elections all around the Country as well as in Andhra Pradesh. The erstwhile opposition party has come into ruling in General Elections 2019. This Government has taken a decision to make Amaravati as Legislative Capital limiting only Legislative Functions in the proposed Amaravati Capital Region and shifting important functions like Administration and Judiciary to other locations of the State to ensure equitable distribution of Development by way of enactment of Decentralisation and Equitable Development Act, 2019 at the State Legislative Assembly. Also, an act by name Capital Region Development Authority Repeal Act,2019 to Repeal the erstwhile Capital Region Development Authority Act, 2014 and make Capital Region Development Authority into Amaravati Metropolitan Region Development Authority promising to carry out all the development activities what would happen if they have to abide the Agreements previously entered into. Even though, there were many development activities with lots of money and debt burden around the proposed Amaravati Capital Region, the present Government has decided to shift main functions of Administration and Judiciary to other locations of the State.

This was opposed by the farmers who gave their land under land pooling scheme and started fighting at the Honorable High Court of Andhra Pradesh by filing PIL.

Putting aside the emotional statements of both The Government and the People who gave their lands under Land Pooling scheme, whose argument would be valid in front of the Court of Law? Can the newly formed Government establish three Capitals for Andhra Pradesh? Or, will Amaravati be the sole Capital of Andhra Pradesh with all functions within the Proposed Capital Region as intended by Capital Region Residents.