The YSR Congress party government in Andhra Pradesh headed by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has begun the exercise to develop Donakonda in Prakasam district as a major industrial hub.
As reported in these columns on July 6, Jagan has shifted his focus from Amaravati to Donakonda and divert majority of the infrastructure and industrial projects from Amaravati to this new hub, since it has huge chunk of government lands and it would be easier to develop the corridor.
On Monday, Prakasam district collector Pola Bhaskar toured Donakonda and Kurichedu blocks to identify the suitable lands for the development of the industrial hub.
The industries department has already sent various industrial proposals worth thousands of crores to be developed in 25,000 acres of land in Donakonda area.
The collector has inspected the master plan to identify the industrial hub, rail and road connectivity and availability of sources for drinking and industrial water supply, besides the possible power supply to the industrial cluster.
There have been reports that already, several YSR Congress party leaders have been buying lands in a big way in and around Donakonda, which is a clear indication to Jagan’s plans.
The previous Telugu Desam Party regime headed by N Chandrababu Naidu had rejected the proposal to build the state capital at Donakonda, but proposed to develop Donakonda region as an industrial hub.
It signed at least three Memoranda of Understanding for setting up of an aviation industry by Titan Group, a food park and an automobile industry, but nothing had materialised during the Naidu regime.
