The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Move to set up I-Max theatre opposed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 22, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Move to set up I-Max theatre opposed

By Our Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM, JAN. 21. Praja Spanadana, a forum for common cause and protection and promotion of public interest in the city, expressed shock at the proposal to set up an I-Max theatre at the old Central Prison land in the heart of the city and urged the Government to rescind its decision.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, the Praja Spandana president, C.S. Rao, said that if the Government failed to respond, "We would be forced to approach the Court."

He said that they had expressed concern over the issue all through the last one year following which the ruling Congress party gave an assurance that the land, vacated after the prison was shifted to Adivivaram, would be kept open to provide the much-needed lung space for the people in the city.

`Bolt from the blue'

``We were happy at the Government's promise but were taken aback to know that the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, would be laying the foundation-stone for the I-Max theatre at the complex on the same day,'' Mr. Rao said.

In this context, he also recalled the assurance given by the Minister for Commercial Taxes, Konathala Ramakrishna, who had gone on record saying that 90 per cent of the citizens were keen on developing a portion of the old prison premises into a park and the rest for conducting public meetings and exhibitions without disturbing the existing greenery. `

`But the Government decision has come as a jolt to the general public.''

Mr. Rao also noted that the Chief Minister had recently appended his signature on the pledge to run a people-friendly Government by consulting the people on all important issues. But even before the ink on the paper had dried, the GO on the Central Prison land to utilise it for I-Max theatre, shopping complex and college, etc., had come out, he pointed out, and blamed the people's representatives from north Andhra, who failed to respond to the public issues.

``The atmospheric and air pollution has increased manifold in recent times and even noted environmentalists like Sagar Dhara, have pointed this out and revealed that cancer and chest diseases have risen by 40 per cent in the city.

On the other hand, high-rise buildings are coming up violating all norms.

Though 40 per cent of the land should be earmarked for lung space in any construction, it is not followed in our city,'' he lamented.

The honorary president of Praja Spandana and noted lawyer, Lanka Jagannadham, its secretary, Mangu Sivarama Prasad, the adviser, G.S.N. Murthy, the president of Vintage Visakha, A.R. Subrahmanyam, the president of the Lawsons Bay Colony Residents' Welfare Association, A. Girija Sankar, and others were present.

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