D (Development) killers
A metropolis that is being destroyed by privatization
Visakhapatnam does not mean RK Beach or Kailasagira. Also, it does not mean big hotels, shopping malls, star hospitals, Himax theaters, 30-story buildings. Today, the rulers are showing these as the metrics for development. In the past, Congress, BJP, TDP and YCP have been campaigning against each other saying that Visakhapatnam has been developed by me. What is the reality?
Maha Visakhapatnam has emerged as a role model for national development after independence. Many public sector organizations, systems, services, departments and social infrastructure have been established with government investment. On the basis of these, private sector industries, trade and commercial organizations have been formed. They are emerging as the lifeblood of Uttarandhra.
Today, the attack on these companies has intensified with the policies of privatization. Hindustan Zinc was sold to Vedanta and closed. Union Ministers are counter-attacking that development will happen only through privatisation. Anyway, they are trying hard to bind all the government institutions to corporate powers.
How it became a metropolis with government investment
Visakhapatnam started as a small fishing village under the Kalinga Empire. Being on the eastern seaboard, it became a very important area for the British. It was declared a municipality in 1866 during the British period. The port started in 1933. Meanwhile, the East Coast Railway lines started via Visakha. Andhra University, King George Hospital was established.
All these were built with the investment of the British colonial government. Scindia Shipyard and Caltex Oil Company were built under the supervision of private companies. By 1951, Visakhapatnam reached one lakh population. After independence, the city of Visakhapatnam grew with the expansion of the government investment from 1947 to 1990. After independence, such as railway and port. The government nationalized the privately owned Scindia Shipyard and Caltex Oil companies and invested heavily in their expansion.
Visakhapatnam was made the main center of the Eastern Defense Navy. Along with warship repair yard, many departments of defense activities were established. After that, Bharat Heavy Plates and Vessels (BHPV), Hindustan Zinc, Simhadri Dharmalplant and other companies were built with government investment. A fishing harbor was built for fishermen. In this order, Kendra, Many administrative offices belonging to the state governments came up. The government banking system was expanded. Education and medical facilities were increased in the public sector. The government increased investments in social and infrastructure development.
As a result, employment opportunities have increased on a large scale. There has been good migration across Uttar Andhra as well as the united state. Most of them have been given jobs in the organized sector. Many small scale industrial centers based on public sector industries have come up in the private sector. Trade, commerce and service activities have expanded. The State Government constituted the Visakha Urban Development Corporation (UDA) in 1978.
The state government has already brought the Urban Land Maximum Limit Act to prevent the concentration of urban land in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Guntur cities. The main purpose of this law is to make the land rates available to all without speculating and dominating the few. Many middle class colonies were formed in the city by collecting land from government lands and farmers and allotting plots at very low prices by UDA organization in large number of layouts. All of them are working in government institutions.
On the other hand, all those who work in public sector organizations, central and state government departments formed cooperative societies, collected land and built residential colonies. Today, all the prominent colonies in the city were formed through UDA or the employees' cooperative sector.
On this occasion, lakhs of poor people who came as migrants built houses on government lands and hills. Today, all these are continuing as slums. All of them who are in the unorganized sector are playing a vital role in the production and services of Visakhapatnam.
Rs. 5 thousand crores investment and direct employment of 25 thousand people have been started. With this the lives of lakhs of people are intertwined around the plant. Back in Visakhapatnam, hundreds of industries have been set up in Visakhapatnam, not only contributing to the expansion of business, trade and service sectors, but Visakhapatnam has also laid a stable foundation for economic stability and urbanization in the country.
Development means Steel Township
The township of Visakha Steel Plant looks like what a city should be, the way of life of the people and the infrastructure.