Centre’s latest shock for Amaravati

The worse fears of the people in Andhra Pradesh have come true. Modi government which proved to be totally insentive to the truncated state had started creating problems for Amaravati as well. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act gives the provision of denotifying Forest lands if needed for the construction of the capital.

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The state government had applied for denotification of 19000 hectares of forest lands but the Union Forests and Environment Ministry is sitting on the film. The state government was made to decrease the proposal of denotification from 19000 hectares to 13000 hectares now citing various reasons.

They now say that the 13000 hectares can be denotified only if they are not used for residential and commercial purpose which means that the land will be of very less use for the state even if denotified. Even then the clearances can only given after submitting the detailed Master Plan, they clarified. They are also asking how will they fulfill compensatory afforestation criteria and where will they plant the new trees has to be clearly committed. It looks like Center is all set to deliver one more shock to the state.