According to media reports, in the midst of the ongoing construction works for Andhra Pradesh’s capital, Amaravati, a power struggle of sorts, or a tug of war, is on within the IAS officers heading different departments assigned to look after the capital works.
Differences among bureaucrats are said to have cropped up over the redistribution of authority, so much so that it is being equated to a cold war.
The main reason behind it is Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s decision to transfer several responsibilities from the AP Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) to Amaravati Development Corporation Limited (ADCL) and the recently formed Amaravati Growth and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (AGICL).
During the tenure of former APCRDA Commissioner Katamneni Bhaskar, the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) infrastructure works in Amaravati were under APCRDA’s jurisdiction. After Kannababu took charge, these works were transferred to ADCL.
It resulted in the status of the APCRDA being largely reduced to the role of a land and planning authority. According to sources, APCRDA Commissioner Kannababu is not happy with the reduced powers.
The fact is the friction that was already brewing between senior officers of APCRDA and ADCL got intensified with the recent transfer of powers. Both sides are blaming each other for trying to curtail each other’s authority.
This fight is coming in the way of the completion of works due to a delay in the billing process. The result saw the issue reaching the state government, which subsequently directed that all billing processes be finalized directly through ADCL.
The entire confusion has developed due to a lack of coordination among different departments. Farmers say unresolved problems related to land pooling, compensation, and infrastructure remain pending due to institutional confusion.
Sources say dissatisfaction is also growing among public representatives from the capital region.
Sources indicate that APCRDA Commissioner Kannababu allegedly attempted to reduce the powers of ADCL Managing Director Lakshmi Parthasarathy.
The matter reportedly reached Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is said to have refused any proposal to curtail the authority of the ADCL MD.
At present, APCRDA’s responsibilities are largely limited to land management and planning approvals. However, even these planning powers may soon be curtailed.
The Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) is reportedly moving to bring layout approvals under its jurisdiction, which many officials feel will further weaken APCRDA’s authority, as even after approval by IAS-level officers in APCRDA, the proposals would require clearance from a director-level officer in DTCP.
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