TDP govt to complete 6 months tomorrow; challenges galore

Developing a capital city, improving the economy and putting Andhra Pradesh on the fast track of development are some of the challenges for the TDP government led by N Chandrababu Naidu, which completes six months in office tomorrow.
Riding on the back of a popular support in the wake of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu took over the reins of the residuary state, after being in the opposition for 10 years, on June 8.
Naidu, however, had found himself in an unenviable position as the state, devoid of a capital city and undivided AP's crown jewel Hyderabad, is faced with a budgetary deficit of Rs 16,000 crore.

Adding to Naidu's onerous responsibility are the election promises of TDP, like loan waiver for farmers and self-help group women, creation of jobs and enhanced social security pensions, among others.
Immediately after he was sworn in as chief minister at a grand function near Vijayawada, Naidu had signed different files relating to the loan waiver, closure of illegal liquor dens, enhancement of social security pensions and a scheme for supply of clean drinking water to villages.
He signed another file enhancing the retirement age for state government employees from 58 to 60 years.

After a thorough exercise, Naidu had announced last week his government's decision to waive farm loan of up to Rs 1.50 lakh per family in the state. The opposition YSR-Congress and Congress attacked the government for not implementing the scheme fully and for allegedly not talking about loan waiver for self-help group women.

Getting down to the task in right earnest, Naidu had announced the government's decision to locate the capital in the Vijayawada-Guntur region in Coastal Andhra.
Naidu, who has grand plans for development of capital city, set up a panel to study the issue and to come up with suggestions. The committee has visited cities like Raipur, Chandigarh to study the models.
The chief minister, who has visited Singapore and Japan recently, has sought the help of the government and other agencies in the two countries for the task.
The process of land pooling, instead of land acquisition, has begun in Guntur district, which was welcomed by farmers in many villages though residents of some other villages appear to be not game for it immediately.