Looking back at events in Andhra Pradesh in the year 2012, the event were not something to cherish. Andhra Pradesh has not seen the best of economic growth as found in a survey by ASSOCHAM. The year's events will culminate in with the Union Home Minister holding a meeting of various political parties to find a solution to the contentious Telangana Statehood issue on Dec 28, 2012.
The year began with a high profile event on projecting A. P as an investment destination as the Government and the CII held the 'Partnership Summit ' to attract investments in agro processing , petroleum , construction, power projects etc.
Topping the list of this unwinding of the events that occurred in 2012, was the jail-term which Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy , the MP from Kadapa and son of the former Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, had to spend in Chanchalguda Jail with businessmen , Politicians and IAS officers for cases involving him in money laundering and quid pro quo deals.
The former Chairman of the scam-ridden Satyam Computers, B. Ramalinga Raju saw the Enforcement Directorate freezing his fixed deposites to the tune of Rs 822 crore.
Citizens of Andhra Pradesh were forced to shell out a hefty Fuel Surcharge Adjustment for their power bills due to a failed monsoon, as Cyclone Nilam washed off the crops ready for harvest along with the hopes of farmers. On the Industrial front, an arson in the Regency Ceramics in Yanam saw the Managing Director being killed in a labour unrest and the Nagarjuna Agrichem plant go up in flames following a blast.
The year also saw Tech Mahindra merger with Mahindra Satyam, the UN Conference of Biodiversity Meet, the setting up of the first healthcare technology centre in Hyderabad by Covedian, the India Aviation Show, pan India launch of Bharat Benz, the opening of a latest MRO facility by MAS -GMR consortium.
The pan India Bullion Bandh affected Andhra Pradesh as much as the rest of the country. Power shortages hit the Industrial Sector of the state badly. The prolonged strike by textile traders over demand to drop VAT on textiles was equally effective to the working of the state.
As the Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy entered the third year in office, the Governor ESL Narasimhan got a fresh five year term in office. The year saw the Hyderabad Metro Rail project moving on the fast lane in the Corridor 3 between Nagole-Shilparamam and amidst protests over the FDI in retail the second (first in Vijayawada) swank Bharti-Walmart 'BestPrice' store spread over 53000 square feet was opened in Hyderabad.
2012 also saw important personalities drop by in the City like the Marketing 'Guru' -Philip Kotler, father of hybrid rice – Long Ping Yuan. Bringing laurels to the State from the London Olympics arena were shuttler Saina Nehwal and shooter Gagan Narang. S. Narsing Rao took over as the Coal India Chief.
In the bleak senario of events - the GVK-Hancock deal and the mass production of helicopter cabins for the Sikorsky-S92 stood out as the bright beacons. Sutherland Global services acquired the Hyderabad-based Apollo Health Street - the BPO arm for 1000 crore in an all cash transaction. Events that caught the imagination of citizens was the futile efforts of the Government of Andhra Pradesh in spending public money for digging a treasure trove, that led to nothing and the Deccan Chargers IPL team being scrapped in favour of the Sun Group's –Sunrisers.
(Photo- P. V. Sivakumar)