HYDERABAD: Former Minister and senior Telugu Desam leader Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary has announced the launch of "Andhra Samkshema Parishad" to increase public awareness and pressure the Government for the overall development of coastal Andhra.

At a press conference here on Friday, he said that the region had been neglected for too long leading to migration of people. "From Tada to Itchapuram there is a marked lack of infrastructure, non-utilisation of natural resources and migration in the wake of acute unemployment. That is the story of Andhra," he remarked.

Decentralisation mantra

Hundreds of km of coastline was left untapped without any development, he said, adding there was no major industry and educational institution. "There was so much talk of a car manufacturer coming to Visakhapatnam, but when is it coming," he asked. He stressed that decentralisation of developmental activities was the need of the hour.

In January 2006, three coordination meetings would be held in Nellore, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam to be attended by people, all political parties, intellectuals and opinion-makers, he said.

Mr. Chowdary reiterated that "Andhra Samkshema Parishad" would be "apolitical and purely development-oriented."

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail