AP Cabinet okays 10 white papers

Vijayawada: The AP cabinet, which met at Amaravati on Friday, approved publication of 10 white papers on the achievements in various sectors the state had logged in, since 2014.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, decided that the white papers should be on subjects, including implementation of promises made in AP State Reorganisation Act, the growth rate in the state, welfare of farmers, utilisation of natural resources, creation of basic facilities in villages and towns, and creation of power infrastructure.

According to Information and Public Relations Minister K Srinivasulu, the cabinet also finalised a calendar for discussion on the white papers. The discussions will begin on January 2 and will end on January 10.

The cabinet by another decision cleared a proposal for setting up of AP Fisheries and Ocean University in Bhimavaram in West Godavari district. The university will come up in private public partnership. The Uddiraju Anandaraju Education Foundation has expressed willingness to be a partner in the project.

The university is being set up to improve skills in the sector in the context of aquaculture having been taken up in 2 lakh hectares. The university would provide 1,600 seats for students.

The cabinet also decided to set up AP Maritime Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. The institution would come up under Companies Act. This will provide basic infrastructure for the establishment of Ramayapatnam sea port in Prakasam district.

The institution would take part in creation of shipping yards, floating docks, slipways, logistic hubs, river ports, freight stations, logistics hubs and inland container depots. It also will help in unearthing valuable mineral wealth hidden in seabed. The company is being set up with a seed capital of Rs 1 crore.

The cabinet also decided to set up five universities, apart from issuing clearance for setting up of five more private universities. If the existing universities are also taken into consideration, the total number of universities will go up to 16.

In Murakambattu in Chittoor district, Apollo Hospital, Education and Research Foundation will set up Apollo University with an investment of Rs 587 crore in an area of 30 acres. In the next five years, 6,950 students would prosecute education.

In Tirupati, the Centre for Development Education will set up Global Digital University. A letter of Intent to be issued to the promoters. It will come up in an area of 15 to 20 acres at a cost of Rs 183 crore. About 17,574 students would study in this institution in 10 years.

Tecso India will set up Tecso India University in Kapulluppada in Visakhapatnam district with an investment of Rs 101 crore in about 15 acres. Anisha Rubica United World University in Intelligent Global Hub for Digital Pedagogy will be set up in Visakhapatnam with an investment of Rs 173 crore.

The cabinet by another decision cleared a policy to substitute AP Wind Policy, 2015 which aims at ensuring energy security. The state proposes augmentation of power generation capacity to 5,000 mw in the next five years.

By another decision, the cabinet cleared a proposal to allot 130 acres in Valmikipuram in Chittoor district for Arvind Limited to set up its jeans garments and fabric manufacturing unit. The investment would be of the order of Rs 760 crore which will provide 9,300 jobs.

The Chief Minister, at the cabinet meeting, suggested that a financial district should come up near economic city in Amaravati where land would be allotted to all banks.

The cabinet also decided to exempt from payment of layout approval and development charges to Visakhapatnam Kakinada Petroleum, Chemical and Petro Chemical Investment Region Special Development Authority for setting up industrial park and development. The cabinet, by another decision, cleared a proposal for the constitution of Eluru Urban Development Authority.