Sangareddy: Minister for Tourism and Industries J. Geetha Reddy has termed the allegations of TDP leader K. Yerran Naidu that the State Congress is paying a `certain fee' to the AICC for a few words of praise "politically motivated" and "ridiculous."

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, the Minister said Congress president Sonia Gandhi was impressed by the developmental activities taken up by the State Government, particularly Indiramma and Jalaygnam programmes.

She countered the criticism by the TRS that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had allocated more funds to Rayalaseema region and Kadapa in particular when compared to Telangana and said that more than half of major projects had been allocated for Telangana. She said Ms. Gandhi had been monitoring the developmental works taken up in Telangana region.

The Minister said that she would organise a meeting with officials concerned on land acquisition for the Outer Ring Road (ORR) project.

She said the Government was devising a package for displaced persons which might include compensating farmers with developed land in lieu of dry land.

She said that fertile land would not be procured for developmental activities.

The Minister said Andhra Pradesh stood first in domestic tourism with 9.5 crore tourists visiting the State in the last two years. She said a new 150-seat boat `Khairunnisa' with conference facilities would be launched in Hussainsagar lake.

The Minister said that Southern Splendour train would be taken up entirely by the State Government despite a lukewarm response from other Southern States.

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