JAMMALAMADUGU (KADAPA DT.): Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, son of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, announced on Friday that he would certainly establish a cement factory at Nallalingayapalle in Kamalapuram mandal of Kadapa district.

"None, including Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu and M.V. Mysoora Reddy, MP, or any other big leader can stop from setting up the factory of Raghuram Cements," he declared in the presence of his father during a meeting held in Jammalamadugu.

Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy also announced that a steel factory would come up in Muddanur mandal of Jammalamadugu constituency with an investment of Rs. 3,500 crores. "I am keen on establishing many more industries and will not go back in developing Kadapa district on the industrial front," he said.

Controversy

Referring to the controversy over allotment of land to Raghuram Cements, he said Pennar Cements Managing Director P. Pratap Reddy purchased the title and applied for permission to set up the factory. He too had applied for it, but withdrew as Mr. Pratap Reddy expressed to the Chief Minister his keenness to set up the cement unit.

Gujarat Ambuja Cements has been enjoying mining lease at Nallalingayapalle for nine years. It merely got the mining lease extended every three years without attempting to establish a factory. The lease was cancelled and given to Mr. Pratap Reddy following which Ambuja Cements moved the Central tribunal against the decision.

Meanwhile, Mr. Pratap Reddy took up the second phase of his cement unit at Tadipatri in Anantapur district. "I took permission for the cement factory six months later and secured all clearances, ordered machinery and finalised civil contractors," he stated. There was no justification for merely continuing the mining lease without setting up a factory within the stipulated three years, he opined.

Big houses reluctant

Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy deplored Mr. Naidu's warning that he would resume the alienated land if TDP regained power.

In 18 months

The factory would come up in the next 18 months, he said. He charged the TDP president and leaders with raking up a controversy on every issue and hampering development of Kadapa district. Reputed business houses were reluctant to set up cement units in Kadapa despite the availability of vast limestone reserves.

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