Telangana Government’s Proposed Bid For Vizag Steel Plant Baseless, Says Andhra Pradesh Minister

The IT and Industries Minister Amarnath said that the Andhra Pradesh government was against strategic disinvestment of the plant.

Andhra Pradesh IT and Industries Minister Gudivada Amarnath said that the reports that the Telangana government was bidding for the acquisition of Visakhaptanam Steel Plant (VSP) were meaningless.

Amarnath said that the Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) is opposed to privatisation. Responding to the reports that the BRS government might join the bidding process to acquire the VSP, Gudivada said on Monday, “We have not come across any official statement in this regard from the Telangana government till now. We have seen only speculations in the media.” 

Gudivada further went on to say that BRS’ stand lacks clarity. “Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had opposed privatisation of the plant tooth and nail. How can he acquire the same? Does this mean the BRS wants the plant to be privatised?’’ he questioned. The minister said that the Telangana govt would make its stand clear once the BRS makes an official announcement on the acquisition.

The IT and Industries Minister Amarnath said that the Andhra Pradesh government was against strategic disinvestment of the plant. CM Jagan Mohan Reddy has been opposing and requesting the Centre not to privatise the plant.

He further said that the Central Government should focus on the debts of the steel plant and take the necessary steps to overcome the situation. But privatisation is not the solution to bail out the steel plant, he said.

“We are fighting to save the Visakha Ukku - Andhrula Hakku sentiment and have also extended our support to the agitating employee unions. We want the Centre to run the plant. We have even passed a resolution in the State Assembly and have written letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi thrice on our stand,” Gudivada elaborated.   

CM Jagan to lay foundation stone for Bhogapuram Airport on May 3

Meanwhile, on Monday, Minister Gudivada Amarnath announced that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will lay the foundation stone for the Greenfield International Airport at Bhogapuram near Visakhapatnam on May 3.

Minister Amarnath went around the land where the trumpet highway will be built and where the chief minister will address the public meeting after laying the foundation stone. He discussed the arrangements for the meeting with YSRCP leaders and officials. The minister revealed that the airport will be built on 2,200 acres. The government has already acquired 2,195 acres, and the remaining land will be acquired soon.

He said the construction of the airport would be completed in 24 to 30 months.

GMR Group is constructing the airport, and it has announced plans to invest Rs 5,000 crore. Its Chairman, G. Mallikharjuna Rao, stated recently that the airport work would begin by the end of May. The airport would initially have the capacity to serve six million passengers and ultimately cater to 40 million passengers annually.