Kuppam back in the limelight

HYDERABAD: Kuppam has bounced back with renewed vigour as the VVIP assembly constituency of Andhra Pradesh. The state government on Saturday created the Kuppam Area Development Authority (KADA) to "ensure integrated development of the Kuppam constituency through planned interventions and use this constituency as a model to inspire and motivate all other constituencies
through a novel scheme".
KADA will have jurisdiction over four mandals - Kuppam, Gudupalli, Santhipuram and Ramakuppam. According to the GO issued, the authority will perform 18 functions. It will ensure provision of communication network to all villages, 100 per cent ration cards, bringing agriculture under micro irrigation system and pucca houses for the poor.
It will also ensure that all youth are provided skills that will secure them jobs, bank linkage to all SHGs, 100 per cent milk collection through SHGs and 100 per cent human and animal health care facilities. It will also aim at computerization of all government offices by using latest information technology, and improving power supply and road network.
The state planning department has been appointed the nodal agency to monitor the activities of KADA. It will be responsible for allocating funds for the development of the constituency. The collector of Chittoor district has been designated the chairman of KADA. A special officer of the rank of deputy collector is to be appointed in a day or two.
The creation of KADA is, in fact, a second coming for the constituency represented by chief minister Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu had switched over to Kuppam in 1989 and continues to represent it till date.
The constituency had first gained prominence between 1995 and 2004 when Naidu was the chief minister. His experiments in agriculture turned the little-known town into an island of prosperity. Farmers were transformed into exporters with the use of Israel's drip irrigation technology. An IAS officer was appointed as the officer on special duty (OSD) for the constituency, which gained a 100-bed hospital, several schools and all-season roads.
But after Naidu's defeat in 2004, Kuppam sank into oblivion. Taking forward Naidu's practice, the successor chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy started developing his Pulivendula constituency in 2004. He also appointed a special officer for the constituency, which attracted projects worth Rs 3,000 crore.
After the death of YSR, Pileru, the constituency represented by then chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, replaced Pulivendula as the VVIP constituency. A Pileru Area Development Authority was constituted and it was declared "a notified tourism area". Huge funds were provided for construction of guest houses, junior colleges, hospitals, a Sainik School, a coaching institute, ITI and new roads. However, Pileru's luck lasted only until the Congress tasted electoral defeat in 2014.
Home turf advantage
* KADA to have jurisdiction over four mandals - Kuppam, Gudupalli, Santhipuram and Ramakuppam
* Authority to perform 18 functions, including computerization of all government offices
* AP planning department appointed the nodal agency to monitor activities of KADA and allocate funds.
* Chittoor collector designated as chairman of KADA
* Special officer of the rank of deputy collector to be appointed in a day or two