Green activists tell AP to shift capital 20km from present site

Hyderabad, Nov 4: Environmental activists are now demanding Andhra Pradesh government to move Amaravati by at least 20 km from the present location to stop massive destruction of local ecology and green cover. Led by Bolisetti Satyanarayana, the green activists are saying that the state government should get clearances from the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) in Delhi and not the environment impact assessment authority in the state to construction the new capital city. The green activists also alleged that Singapore Rs 11.92 crore to prepare the master plan for the new capital city. "State government has blatantly misled public by saying Singapore prepared the master plan for free. But, a RTI reply from the CRDA clearly said that the state cabinet gave permission to hire Surbana to prepare the master plan for 217 sq.km at a cost of Rs 11.92 crore on nomination." Satyanarayana said. He demanded a FEMA and a CBI probe into the Surbana transaction.