Forget Singapore, Naidu is satisfied with Chhattisgarh

• Naidu impressed by Naya Raipur development
• He takes note of the Public distribution system there
• To buy surplus power from C’garh, discusses possibility of laying power transmission lines to AP
• He offers the neighbouring state the use of AP’s ports
• Task force to identify other areas of cooperation

Raipur: Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have decided to study and identify various areas where both the states can cooperate with each other.

AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu who visited Chhattisgarh went round several places in and around Naya Raipur and also saw a power point presentation on how the new capital city was constructed.

Later talking to the media, Naidu said he was impressed by the manner in which the new state had constructed its capital city. He said he had seen for himself as to how the government had gone in for land pooling system and how it had ensured that both the farmers and the government were in a win-win situation. He said the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister had explained to him the financial problems they had faced after the new state was formed and how they had succeeded in attracting investments.

Naidu said he would adopt the best practices of Chhattisgarh government and after making necessary modifications to suit the needs of AP, he would implement them to develop Andhra Pradesh.

The AP chief minister said that he had taken special note of the public distribution system that was being followed in Chhattisgarh. This system had satisfied about 98 per cent of the people in the state. Even the farmers were happy with the system, Naidu said.
Replying to a question, Naidu said that Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh governments had decided to constitute a joint task force to identify the areas of cooperation. He said he had explained to the Chhattisgarh CM about the vast sea coast AP had and the large number of ports that were coming up in the state.

AP would have about 14 ports and Chhattisgarh could utilise them for trade purposes. However, for that the road and rail connectivity between the two states needed to be further improved and both the governments would work together in that direction, Naidu added. He said the possibility of laying new power lines between the two states was also discussed. Asked if they had discussed the objections Chhattisgarh had raised on the issue of Polavaram project, Naidu said that it did not figure in during the talks since the matter was in the Supreme Court.