Tirupati, Sep 26: YSRCP state spokesperson Bhumana Karunakar Reddy on Saturday questioned the Andhra Pradesh government over the sudden cancellation of the proposed pumped hydro storage project in Annamayya district, alleging that the coalition government was announcing projects with much fanfare and later withdrawing them through late-night government orders.
Bhumana alleged that the government’s approach to industrial development had become one of announcing major projects during the day and cancelling them at midnight.
Bhumana said the proposed pumped hydro storage project in Nandalur mandal, covering Chintakuntapalem, Mantapampalle and Kommuru villages, had been presented about 18 months ago as a major investment project.
According to him, the project was projected at Rs.10,300 crore and was expected to generate employment for nearly 3,000 people. He questioned why the government, after initially projecting the project as environmentally beneficial, had subsequently cited environmental concerns while cancelling it.
“If environmental and ecological concerns existed, were they not known when the project was announced and approvals were being pursued?” Bhumana asked.
He demanded that the government disclose the reasons behind the cancellation and clarify whether all feasibility and environmental aspects had been properly examined before the project was announced.
