Amaravati, Nov 28 (NationPress) The Cabinet of Andhra Pradesh has officially sanctioned the second phase of land pooling in its capital, Amaravati, on Friday. This initiative will see the acquisition of 16,666 acres of land across seven mandals within the Amaravati capital region.

The meeting, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, endorsed a proposal empowering the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) Commissioner to commence a land pooling scheme in seven villages: Vaikuntapuram, Pedda Maddur, Endrai, Karlapudi, Vaddamanu, Harischandrapuram, and Peddaparimi.

Under the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 55 of the APCRDA Act, an area of 16,666.57 acres will be acquired.

The Cabinet’s decision followed Chief Minister Naidu's remarks about the limitations of the current 29-village footprint, which he argued is insufficient for developing a metropolitan area on par with Hyderabad.

In discussions with farmers from Amaravati, he cautioned that if the city remains restricted to its present boundaries, it risks becoming merely a municipality instead of a capital-level urban economy.

Naidu assured the farmers that the government's expansion strategy requires their backing and committed to addressing every concern they raised.

The state has already secured 34,000 acres through land pooling for capital development. An additional 16,000 acres has been sourced from endowment, forest, Waqf, and Poramboke lands, expanding Amaravati’s footprint to 50,000 acres.

However, the plan to acquire an extra 30,000 acres across 11 villages outside the core capital area faces opposition.

The government aims to develop an international airport in Amaravati by obtaining this additional land.

Defending the need for an international airport, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P. Narayana argued that it is vital for attracting foreign investors to establish smart industries in Amaravati.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved the formation of a new corporation called ‘AP Noor Basha/Dudekula Cooperative Finance Corporation’ by dissolving the existing AP State Noor Basha/Dudekula Welfare and Development Corporation under the AP Cooperative Societies Act of 1964.

The government stated its dedication to fulfilling the long-standing request for a specialized institutional framework for the Noor Basha/Dudekula community. It acknowledged that the absence of such a mechanism has hindered the community's advancement. Establishing this corporation aims to eradicate socio-economic disparities, ensure equal opportunities, and promote progress in alignment with the Constitution of India.