TDP’s Chinese model of development for residual Andhra

The Chinese model of decentralised development—this is Telugu Desam Party’s palliative for the problems that the residual Andhra will inherit after the State is bifurcated on June 2.

Unveiling his party’s roadmap for the development of Seemandhra after bifurcation, party president N Chandrababu Naidu said different cities in the region had different potentials and resources. Instead of focussing development on one particular area, the best option is to develop a chain of growth centres, utilising the local resources, he said at an interactive meeting with a cross-section of people here today. While the Visakhapatnam to Kakinada belt had the potential to be developed as a petrochemical corridor, with presence of HPCL refinery in Visakhapatnam and availability of gas in KG basin, the Cuddapah-Kurnool-Anantapur region is bestowed with rich mineral wealth that can be developed into a mineral-based industrial hub. Similarly, the Prakasam-Guntur area is a major cotton producing area that can be used to develop a textile hub, while the coastal stretch from Eluru to Nellore can be transformed into an aquaculture hub. “Decentralised development and administration is the only way out,” he said.

But how to get the huge funds required for these development?

Naidu admitted he is somewhat confused on this at this moment. “On one side, the (residual) State will inherit a deficit of over ₹10,000 crore. On the other, Central assistance is uncertain, given the economic health. Then we have to develop a new capital from the scratch. And there are so many other issues such as education, infrastructure, agriculture…Given all my experience as a chief minister for nine years and the opposition leader, I admit I am a bit confused. I can understand how people must be confused, uncertain and insecure,” he said.

He said history had shown that every problem brought with it an opportunity and every crisis was a challenge. Without going into details, he said the target should be to tap for cheaper overseas funds, while create an infrastructure for investments by private sector, which would then compete with government-owned units on a level playing field.