TDP trying to block development, says minister

Hyderabad, Apr 1 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Minister for Agriculture N Raghuveera Reddy, today alleged that the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and two or three newspapers were purposely trying to mislead the people by misrepresenting facts.'' Talking to newspersons here, he expressed surprise over a report published in a popular Telugu daily and the criticism of TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu about the acquisition of land for establishing an Industrial Estate at Chilamattur in Anantapur distict by the AP Industrial Development Corporation (APIDC).

Mr Reddy said the newspaper and Mr Naidu were trying to establish that APIIC had committed a crime by acquiring land.

He said there was an urgent need to help the farmers of Anantapur to shift to other professions, as Anantapur had the second lowest rainfall in the country, after Jaisalmeer in Rajasthan. If this was not done, there would be widespead social unrest, he added.

The Minister said 70 per cent of the identified land belonged to the Government and added that 100 acres of private land identified was not acquired at.

He said even Communist ruled states and China were setting up Special Economic Zones(SEZs) for achieving rapid industrial development.

Mr Reddy said the Congress Government was taking the state forward on all fronts and alleged that the TDP was trying to block the Jalayagnam (irrigation initiative) and setting up of SEZs.

The TDP could only attract investments to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore during its nine-year tenure, but the Congress Government had brought Rs 1,100 crore during the first two years of its rule, he added.

UNI