Leaders demand statehood for Coastal Andhra

Vijayawada, Aug 12 (UNI) Alleging neglect of the Coastal Andhra Region by the state government, several leaders from various organisations today sought statehood for the region to foster its development.

Speaking at a meeting here organised by 'Jai Andhra Udyama Samithi' floated by the BJP to fight for separate statehood for Coastal Andhra, the leaders took stong exception to Telangana Rastra Samithi Chief K Chandrasekhara Rao's statement that the government was neglecting the Telangana region.

They alleged every Chief Minister in the state was taking up development activities only in the Telangana Region neglecting Coastal Andhra in all aspects.

Samithi Chairman and Former MLA K Haribabu said except for Visakha Steel Plant, not a single project or industry had come up in the region after formation of the Andhra Pradesh.

Mr Haribabu said most of the revenue spent on Telangana region went from coastal districts.

Listing out examples for the government's step-motherly attitude towards Coastal Andhra, he said for the ongoing 'jalayagnam' programme, the government was spending Rs 1.20 lakh crore on irrigation projects setting aside a meagre 20 per cent for Coastal Andhra.

He said if a seperate state had been formed, 1,000 km sea shore from Srikakulam to Tada would be developed through construction of major ports and the development of existing ports.

The meeting appealed the industrialists of Coastal Andhra region to stop investments in Telangana particularly in Hyderabad and instead spend them in Coastal Andhra Region for uplift of the unemployed youth there.

UNI