In just 11 months, Andhra Pradesh’s coalition government has turned hope into despair. They promised big changes during the elections, but not one of those promises has been kept. Instead, the state is caught in a web of corruption, with scams involving sand, land, liquor, and more. Leaders, ministers, and lawmakers are accused of looting public money while the people struggle. This is the story of a state let down by those meant to serve it.
Scams Everywhere
The coalition’s rule has been defined by one scandal after another. Sand, which was supposed to be free for everyone, is now a goldmine for coalition leaders. They control sand mining sites, digging up rivers and canals to fill their pockets. The state used to earn Rs. 700 crore a year from sand, but now that money disappears into private hands. Even soil is being stolen from government lands, with officials looking the other way.
Land deals are just as bad. Precious government land is being handed over to friends and supporters for next to nothing. For example, 59 acres worth Rs. 3,000 crore were given to a new company, Ursa Clusters, for just Rs. 0.99 per acre. Another 21.16 acres, worth Rs. 320 crore, went to TCS for the same tiny price. In Kurnool, 1,200 acres were gifted to a company tied to a coalition leader’s business partner, far below market rates. Public land is being sold off cheap, and no one seems to care.
Liquor scams are back too
Between 2014 and 2019, a liquor scandal cost the state over Rs. 5,000 crore, with leaders taking huge cuts. Thousands of illegal liquor shops popped up, flooding the state. A police investigation named top officials and leaders, but the coalition’s return has brought back whispers of similar schemes.
Amaravati and Polavaram Mess
The coalition’s handling of Amaravati, the planned capital, and Polavaram, a vital irrigation project, is a disaster. Amaravati’s costs have exploded. Projects once budgeted at Rs. 43,000 crore now cost Rs. 77,500 crore. The secretariat, estimated at Rs. 2,271 crore in 2018, is now Rs. 4,689 crore, even though some work was already done. Roads in Amaravati cost Rs. 50-60 crore per kilometer, compared to Rs. 20 crore for national highways. The High Court and Assembly buildings are budgeted at Rs. 1,650 crore, far more than earlier temporary structures. Many say these inflated costs are a way to pay off loyal contractors.
Polavaram is even worse
The coalition took control of the project from the central government, sidelining the state’s demand for special status. Contracts went to relatives and party members, leading to massive theft. Poor work has damaged the dam, and fixing it will cost an extra Rs. 1,000 crore. The dam’s height was also lowered, hurting farmers who depend on it.
Selling Off the State
The coalition is privatizing everything built by the previous government under YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Jagan started 17 medical colleges to provide affordable education and healthcare, with five already running. The coalition has stopped their progress, rejected extra medical seats from the central government, and plans to hand them over to private companies. Ports and fishing harbors, meant to boost the economy and help fishermen, are also being privatized. Ramayapatnam, Machilipatnam, and Mulapeta ports, nearly complete, are up for sale. Ten fishing harbors, meant to support local communities, face the same fate.
Even the state’s internet network, which worked well under Reddy, is being sold off. The Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation is borrowing Rs. 9,000 crore by putting up 436 mines, worth Rs. 1,91,000 crore, as collateral. This risks the state’s future for short-term cash.
A Lavish Palace
Rumors are swirling that a coalition leader is building a grand palace in Amaravati on 5.16 acres, bought for Rs. 18.75 crore, way below its real value of Rs. 170 crore. Many believe the money comes from kickbacks tied to capital projects, a symbol of leaders putting themselves first.
Piling Up Debt
The coalition has borrowed Rs. 1,51,000 crore in 11 months, but there’s no sign of any welfare programs. People are asking where the money went. Roads are now set to be privatized, with tolls on the way. Jagan’s systems to prevent corruption, like reverse tendering, were scrapped, replaced with a system that lets contractors take money upfront, fueling more scams.
The People’s Struggle
Andhra Pradesh is drowning in debt and disappointment. The coalition’s failure to deliver, combined with endless corruption, has left people angry. From sand to medical colleges, the state’s wealth is being given away to the powerful. The question is whether the people will demand change or watch their state slip away.
