AP Roundup 2020: A year of pandemic, Political controversies, launch of welfare schemes

Year Ender 2020 Andhra Pradesh: As we come to the end of one of the most the troublesome year 2020 where the world has seen the biggest pandemic ever named coronavirus that led to the lockdown. The year 2020 has almost gone just like a flash, which has impacted all the sectors across the globe. While coming to India, the economy was affected and many states have been looking for help from the centre amid the financial crisis. Off which, Andhra Pradesh is one among the states to have been affected with coronavirus. However, with Chief Minister YS Jagan being firm on his promises, the development and welfare have not been effected in the state. On the other hand, there is an ugly fight between the opposition and ruling parties right from the beginning of the year when the chief minister YS Jagan mooted the idea of three capitals to the state.

It took a wrong turn and has hit the judiciary as well with government complaining to the chief justice of India against Supreme Court judges over influencing the High Court judges. As the new year is fast approaching, we are here to collate the developments that took place in the state, including Schemes implemented, controversies, tragic incidents, and crimes in the year 2020.

Welfare Schemes launched in the state:

Despite pandemic situation, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy who has been fulfilling the welfare schemes as promised in the elections had launched many schemes in 2019 and continued the same in 2020 as well. As part of it, YS Jagan has launched 'Amma Vodi programme' in Chittoor district to extend financial assistance of Rs 15,000 a year to the mothers/guardians who send their children/wards to government schools.

These has implemented the YSR Rythu Bharosa-PM Kisan Scheme for the second consecutive year to provide financial assistance to the farmers for the investment. The farmers are eligible to seek the assistance of Rs 13, 500 on an annual basis with Rs 7,500 is contributed by the state and Rs 6,000 is contributed by the centre. Later, YSR Cheyutha scheme was launched to promote entrepreneurship with Rs 17,000 crore where the government will provide marketing, technical assistance, and the banks will provide loans.

The government has launched Abhayam project for safety & security of women passengers initiated in Visakhapatnam by launching 1,000 auto-rickshaws with GPS enabled tracking device. The project is a State-based IoT project that has been sanctioned by the centre under the Nirbhaya scheme.

Then YSRCP government has brought in the Disha act to suppress the crimes on the women and also inaugurated the first Disha Police Station in the state in Rajamahendravaram on February 8, which aims at rendering speedy justice for women victims of sexual assault (rape), harassment and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

The chief minister has also launched the 'Nadu-Nedu' scheme for modernising hospitals in Kurnool wherein Rs. 15,337 will be spent to modernise all the government hospitals in three years.

Three Capital Decision

The government of Andhra Pradesh has mooted the idea of three capitals to Andhra Pradesh with Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital, judiciary at Kurnool, and legislative at Amaravati and passed in the assembly. However, the bill is obstructed in the council, which led to the abolition of council. and there started the war between the ruling YSRCP and TDP with both the parties moving courts on the issue. Later the bill was passed in the assembly for the second time in June 2020 and got the approval from the governor and centre. Yet the High Court has kept the issue under the status quo and has been hearing several petitions filed in the court against three capitals.

Major Controversies and setbacks to the government in courts

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has received the first blow after the Andhra Pradesh High Court disapproved of YSRCP party colours on the panchayat buildings and directed to erase them immediately. The High Court's order comes ahead of scheduled panchayat elections. This led the government to move the Supreme Court where it did not get any relief on the issue and was compelled to erase the party colours.

In a major setback in March at the time of local body elections in the state, the State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar announced the postponement of local body elections for six weeks, citing coronavirus cases, which led to the political war which continues till today. Anguished over the SEC's move, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy the very next day met Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan complaining that SEC's decision. Followed by the government has removed him from the position by bringing an ordinance. However, the SEC has moved High Court, which ruled out in his favour and directed the government to reappoint Nimmagadda Ramesh as SEC.

On the other hand, the holding of panchayat polls in the states has taken another war between the government and SEC wherein government is against the conduction of elections. At the same time, SEC is contemplating to hold elections in February 2021.

There are many aspects where the government has received major setbacks from courts in various issues such as removing the Doctor Sudhakar from duties for speaking against the government over coronavirus kits, etc.

Distressed over the setbacks from the courts, the chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has written a letter to Supreme Court justice levelling allegations against the judges of Supreme Court and High Court. This has come after the High Court has given the gag orders in connection with Amaravati land irregularities. Followed by a sensational development, Principal Advisor to Chief Minister Ajeya Kallam disclosed the letter at a press conference in Vijayawada that CM Jagan had lodged a complaint with the CJI against SC Judge N V Ramana stating the Justice NV Ramana had been influencing the judges of the State High Court, including the roster of some judges.

In another incident, the most controversial incident where the petition was filed over the constitutional breakdown in the state of Andhra Pradesh in the AP High Court. The court has issued orders to examine whether the constitution breakdown on October 1. The government has moved the Supreme Court, which stayed the High Court orders recently.

Tragic Incidents Occurred in the state:

In a most tragic incident, eleven people died, and more than 1,000 fell sick after inhaling poisonous styrene gas leaked from LG Polymers Ltd, at Gopalapatnam in Visakhapatnam. The incident took place while LG polymers was reopening the plant after being closed for more than 40 days due to coronavirus lockdown. In another incident, ten people died after a fire broke out in a Covid-19 facility at Swarna Palace Hotel in Vijayawada. The government has announced Rs 50 lakhs ex gratia each to the families of those who lost their lives in the fire.

In a recent incident of a mysterious disease in Eluru, as many as 600 hospitalised and treated and one death reported. The cause of it is yet to be found.

Formation of new districts

The state government headed by chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy constituted a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary to chalk out a strategy to form the new districts. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting. According to the YSRCP, 12 new districts need to be divided out of existing 13 districts.

Irrigations projects progress and new projects proposed

Ever since the YSRCP has come to power, the Polavaram project works have been going on with a rapid speed to complete the project by 2022. The Spillway works have been under progress and likely to be completed by next year May. In the meanwhile, the Polavaram Project Authority CEO visited the project and expressed satisfaction over the way the works being carried out.

The government of Andhra Pradesh on May 5 approved the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme with a cost of Rs 3,825 crore to overcome the drinking water problems in Rayalaseema. However, the Telangana government raised objections due to which Central Water Resources department has not given the nod for the DPR sent by the AP government and also has not got clearance from the NGT as well.

On the other hand, government has decided to build two more barrages downstream Prakasam Barrage estimated to cost Rs 2,565 crore. One barrage at 12 km downstream Prakasam Barrage between Chodavaram in Penamaluru Mandal of Krishna district and Ramachandrapuram in Mangalagiri Mandal of Guntur district with an estimated cost of Rs 1,215 crore, and the second one at 62 km downstream between Bandikollanka in Mopidevi Mandal of Krishna district and Turupupalem in Repalle Mandal of Guntur district with an estimated cost of Rs 1,350 crore to store about 3 TMC of water.

We end up here and wish all a happy new year and may the state prosper more in the coming year.