Protesting the delay in setting up of the Steel Plant in Kadapa district, Steel Plant Sadhanaa Samiti (SPSS)today launched people mobilization program to exert pressure on the state and central governments. Steel Plant Sadhanaa Samiti is an organization floated by students, youth, writers, intellectuals etc from Kadapa, Kurnool, Anantapur and Chittoor districts.
Demanding the implementation of the assurance given in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act-2014, about 100 members of the SPSS today began their program from a village called Vellala in Rajupalem mandal. Led by engineering graduate GV Praveen Kumar Reddy, SPSS members first presented a memorandum to Lord Anjaneya in the local temple. Explaining about the benefits that accrue to the area and the people from the steel plant, the memorandum sought to remind the people of the assurance given in the Act. The Act says the centre would examine the setting up of a steel plant by SAIL.
The memorandum deplores the apathy of both state and central governments in initiating the steps to set up the plant at the same location where YS Rajasekhar Reddy planned Brahmani Steel plant and laid foundation stone. Later, the members went to the local ZP High school and to educate the students on the benefits of the steel plant and the need to participate in the movement. Cultural troops gave performance on how region was ignored in the past the how the steel plant was going to mitigate the poverty and backwardness of the region , especially the Kadapa district. Later, led by Praveen Kumar Reddy, the members launched door to door campaign- meeting every member of households to take their pledge of support to the movement.
Talking to ‘telugu360.com’ from Vellala village, Praveen Kumar Reddy said the more the delay in setting up the plant, the more people get disillusioned with state and central governments. ” We are planning door to door campaign to mobilize people for the movement. This is the campaign phase. In this phase we will knock at every door of the villages and meet up each and every member of the househol to explain the benefit to this chronic drought prone area. We seek their support. In the next phase we will launch the movement and intensify till the government announces the timeline for the setting up of the project,” Reddy said.
The region had everything ready for setting up of the plant, he said.” The Rajasekhar Reddy government acquired the land and is idle. For a project to come up land proves to be the major hurdle. Here there is no land problem. And the centre itself agreed for the plant in AP Reorganization Act. The people are not able to understand the delay,” he said adding that Steel plant alone could address the unemployment and backwardness of this region. “The plant starts providing employment from the very day the civil works would begin. The plant improves the employment, education, health , business opportunities, spurs the development of the region, and improves the rail and air infrastructure. The steel city would change the profile the region. We will fight for it on the lines our students fought for Vizag steel,” Praveen Reddy explained.
” We feel Kadapa steel is Rayalaseema’ right,” Praveen Reddy said giving tentative details of the program of their agitation.
” We are planning a massive public meeting at Brahmani steel plant site soon. Later, we have plans to organize fast, indefinite fast at Kadapa and other important place across the region. Students of all universities in the region have expressed their solidarity to our movement,” he said.
Reddy urged the state government to initiate the steps to establish the plant without delay either in public sector or in private sector.
