Chandras’ visit rekindles tribals’ hopes

Bhadrachalam/Chintoor: Finally, there seems to be some glimmer of hope for the people, especially the Adivasis, living in seven mandals that have been transferred to East Godavari district in Andhra Pradish after the State bifurcation and the remaining mandals of Bhadrachalam Agency, including the temple town.

• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister is to tour the seven mandals which have been sliced off Telangana State and merged with AP
• On the other hand, Telangana State Chief Minister is visiting Bhadrachalam to present pearls to Lord Srirama on the occasion of celestial wedding

With the two Chief Ministers K Chandrashekar Rao and N Chandrababu Naidu are set to visit the Agency in the next couple of days, albeit separately and for different reasons, the hopes of Adivasis, who have been in a state of despair for about two years, appear to have rekindled.

There was none to listen to the problems faced by the people, especially pertaining to recruitment of teachers through DSC and the technical issues relating to transfer of teachers and other employees between the two States. The problems remain unsolved for over a year. There is a staff crunch in education wing in merged mandals with nearly 80 per cent of the teachers opting to go to Telangana.

In the DSC examinations conducted by the AP, several youths who have completed their schooling from merged mandals in the undivided State were allegedly denied permission to attend the test citing they are non-locals. Against this backdrop, Naidu’s first visit to Chintoor (now in East Godavari) on Wednesday to inaugurate the ITDA and a sub-treasury for the merged mandals has gained a lot of prominence.

The buzz around the visit is that Naidu is likely to announce some plans for development of the mandals before he heli-hops to Kukunoor mandal (now in West Godavari district). There is a speculation that the Chief Minister may announce a hike in compensation and R&R package for the displaced under Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project, and establishment of an Area hospital.

It may be mentioned here that in the past, the government had paid Rs 1.30 lakh per acre to the displaced. Meanwhile, the people of Bhadrachalam and other Agency mandals have high hopes on the visit of KCR, who is carrying Mutyala Talambralu on behalf of the government for the Lord Sita Ramachandra Swamy’s celestial wedding on April 15.

Although the locals expected an announcement of Bhadradri’s development plans on the lines of Yadadri during the Lord’s celestial wedding last year, KCR did not reveal anything about it. However, if one goes by the words of Minister for Roads and Buildings Tummala Nageswar Rao, KCR is likely to announce an action plan for the development of Bhadradri.

This apart, the speculation is rife that KCR is likely to make a statement about the possibility of regaining five panchayats - Yatapaka, Kannayigudem, Pichukalapadu, Purushothamapatnam and Gundala that went to AP after bifurcation. Speculation has it that Naidu may concede these panchayats to Telangana State. These panchayats not only ensure territorial connectivity among the mandals in Telangana State but also considered as pivotal in the development of Bhadrachalam.

The police of both the States are on a high alert in view of two Chief Ministers visiting the Agency in the backdrop of recent signs of Maoist insurgency. East Godavari collector H Arun Kumar and Superintendent of Police M Ravi Prakash reviewed the security arrangements in Chintoor on Monday ahead of Naidu’s tour.