Best way to develop capital is through land pooling: Naidu

Hyderabad, Nov. 8: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday clarified the land-pooling approach is an ideal way for developing the new capital in the Vijayawada-Guntur region. Addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting on the issue, the chief minister said the land pooling approach would provide a win-win situation for the land owners as well as the state government. Chandrababu Naidu assured that farmers without homes will be given homes and they will be given developed land in return for their land taken up for capital development. He said the division of Andhra Pradesh is causing a big loss to the residual state. Developing a new capital and rebuilding the residual state at a time when where there is paucity of funds is a major challenge, the chief minister said. Though there were suggestions to acquire land, Chandrababu said his government believed land-pooling is the best approach to develop a new capital. Chandrababu clarified that while selecting the capital region his government has based its decision on social infrastructure, which he said was vital for the development of a new city. The state government is considering developing part of the capital on Krishna river front. He also said the quantum of land required will be based on need, however, broad indications of 30,000 acres have been given.