ELURU : After the vexed separate Telangana demand, it now appears to be time for the reported regional backwardness of coastal Andhra to hog the limelight during the three-day visit of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy to West and East Godavari districts, which began on Friday.

Congress MP from Eluru Kavuri Sambhasiva Rao told reporters today that the elected representatives of his party from West Godavari district were preparing ground to highlight the issue during the Chief Minister's visit. He said all the MLAs and MPs from the district were planning to submit a memorandum to Dr. Reddy, highlighting the need for the State and Central governments to focus on the development of the coastal regions on industrial and educational fronts.

"There is no development whatsoever in the coastal region for several decades, save agriculture, by virtue of the fertile delta tracts and the canal network. Of late, the crisis-stricken agriculture, marked by farmer suicides, proved no longer a lucrative profession due to market vagaries and adverse crop conditions."

Mr. Sambasiva Rao wanted the Chief Minister to ensure a level playing field for coastal Andhra in the sphere of education by striving to establish veterinary and agriculture campus universities in the region.

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