When the previous Telugu Desam Party government led by N Chandrababu Naidu had chosen Amaravati as the capital city area, it caused a lot of inconvenience for the state government employees who have their families in Hyderabad.
Naidu somehow convinced them to move to Amaravati at least during the weekdays. He announced a five-day week for the employees, who used to come at 11 am on Monday and leave Amaravati by 3 pm on Friday. Gradually, they are habituated to this changed life style.
But the IAS officers continued to face troubles in shifting to Amaravati, since they too have bought huge properties in Hyderabad and their families, too, are well settled there.
Subsequently, several IAS officers decided to buy plots in Amaravati since the government started stepping up works on the capital city and anyway, it would be inevitable for them to move to the new capital.
Accordingly, many IAS officers reportedly bought plots of 500 square yards each in the prime areas of Amaravati at a cost of Rs 25 lakh. But even before they started constructing their houses, the government changed in AP and YSR Congress party led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy came to power.
Now with the Jagan government deciding to move the executive capital to Visakhapatnam, these IAS officers are in a state of quandary, as there is no point in constructing houses at Amaravati when the capital is going to be in Visakhapatnam.
Sources said they have now dropped the plan to construct houses in Amaravati and they are now planning to sell their plots. They are expected to hold a meeting soon to take a decision on their plots.
Apparently, they are planning to ask the government to take back their plots and return them their money of Rs 25 lakh, with or without interest.
“Most of the money they had raised was through bank loans. If the government can clear their bank loans and pay the remaining money to them, they would give up their lands,” sources said.
It remains to be seen what the Jagan government will do with them.