The state government, which is facing many cases with regard to the destruction of multi-cropped areas to make room for construction of capital Amaravati, has placed a pack of lies before the National Green Tribunal stating that the total sown area in Amaravati capital region is negligible and would not have any adverse impact on the food security of AP or the nation.

Responding to NGT notices, Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) commissioner N Srikanth reportedly informed the Tribunal that the area under cultivation in the capital is just 0.027 percent of the total sown area in the state during kharif last year. The extent of paddy cultivation is mere 0.077 percent of the total paddy cultivable area in AP.

According to Sri Kantah, the argument that the construction of capital was being taken up at the cost vibrant agricultural economy. The total sown area in the proposed capital last year was around 11,242 hectares of which paddy was cultivated in just 1,266 hectares, he added.

And there was no reference to the contentious multi-crop land that is being acquired now which Jana Sena president and movie star Pawan Kalyan is also opposing. Incidentally, CRDA chief Srikanth’s assertion is based on the revenue records of 1908.

Professor Chigurupati Ramachandraiah contradicts:

Chigurupati Ramachandraiah, an eminent professor from Centre for Economics and Social Sciences (CESS), Hyderabad, contradicted the argument of CRDA.

” This is an attempt to reduce the whole cultivation in the fertile region into insignificant percentages of state/national level figures in food production. I wish the National Green Tribunal sees through the game and calls his bluff,” Ramachandraiah said.

He appealed to TDP supporters that, “a government which tells lies and cheats the courts today cannot tell the truth tomorrow, and set high standards in public life for future generations. This is not a party (or, worse, caste) affair.”