Capital to Build a Capital?

Photo: The Hindu


The divided Andhra needs a capital.  What is so special about a capital city? Nothing but an administrative headquarters. At what cost? 500000 crores fund required! 30,000 acres of lands needed!

Millions of tons of cement and steel and trillions of cubic feet of river sand and billions of 'man days' for building a city. Where to produce the grains and paddy if all these go for concreted jungles? What would be the resultant impact on the environment?


I'm not saying that we require no capital city. We have to understand that it is yet another city. For instance Cochin/Ernakulam is much bigger than the Capital Trivandrum on every count. 
The idea of a 'capital' is a myth.  Slowly it will emerge on its own.


Let it be Vijayawada. No issue. But the attention must be in building the state Andhra and not in  one urban jungle. 

The mega size buildings with wings and eaves and fully air conditioned with safety apparatus in place  are not 'nation building' .

The priority must be given for HEALTH, SAFE WATER, FOOD, SHELTER, EDUCATION, SANITATION, FARMING, TRANSFORMING TECHNOLOGY TO ASSIST THE POOR , ROADS AND SO ON. 

Capital building must come at the end. The world won't ask how many rich are there; but how many poor are there?

Even the administration can be run from 'tiled roof' houses. Let us Build Andhra and not a mere CITY.