Why bring foreign companies to build AP capital: Cong

Congress today questioned the reported participation of foreign companies in the proposed building of the capital for Andhra Pradesh and alleged the lands are being given to them of 99-year lease. "And I am told that all these lands (some of the acquired lands for capital city project) are being given on 99 years lease to foreign companies," AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to lay the foundation stone for the capital Amaravati on October 22. Noting that the Prime Minister is laying stress on "Make in India", Singh asked: "Are Indian companies or contractors or city planners have no competence to build a capital ?, and noted that Chandigarh, Gandhinagar and Raipur were built by Indians." "Why bring foreign companies? You can bring their technology, you can bring their planners to help us build. But why give them 99 years lease to these foreign companies? This is the basic objection," he said. Singh said he has doubts if the National Green Tribunal has given its clearance, and also whether environmental clearances have been obtained. He alleged that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is "keeping quiet" on the issue of special category status to the State. Such a status to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand brought thousands of crores of investment to the two states, Singh said. Noting that then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made the commitment to accord the status on the floor of Rajya Sabha in February last year during a debate on AP Reorganisation Act, he asked: "Why this is not being given?"