Current Affairs

Issue

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jaganmohan Reddy has announced the withdrawal of the laws on three state capitals.

 

Background

The ruling party had introduced a bill to develop three capitals for the state by rejecting the previous government’s plan to develop the current capital of Amaravati.

 

Details

• In January 2020, the Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Act, 2020 law was passed for making three capitals.

• Now a modified bill, Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Repeal Bill, 2021, was passed for taking back the existing bill.

 

Start of issue

• The TDP government decided to develop Amaravati as a world-class state capital by acquiring agricultural lands through land pooling.

• Land owners were given monetary compensation and also promise of return of developed plots. The region panned between Vijayawada and Guntur.

• The TDP government built temporary government complex, judicial buildings and permanent legislature complex in Amaravati along with bungalows and apartments for lawmakers.

• The new YSRCP government decided to decentralize the development by introducing the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Act, 2020 bill.

• Under the new plans, Amaravati was to be the Legislative capital, Visakhapatnam the Executive capital, and Kurnool the Judicial capital.

 

Reasons for repealing

• Large number of petions were filed in Andhra Pradesh High Court by farmers and other stakeholders in opposition to the move.

• The Chief Minister has promised to bring “better” and more “comprehensive” Bill after addressing issues in previous bill.

 

The decentralization bill

• The government has blamed opposition for spreading lies about the intentions of the government.

• There is a need to invest in development of multiple regions rather than centralizing on a single city, which was in the case of Amaravati.