I am a citizen of Andhra Pradesh and pained that the new capital of Andhra Pradesh might be located in the highly fertile and agricultural area of Guntur district (“ >Andhra’s capital to be named Amaravathi,” March 24).

Land here yields three to four food crops in a year. These include rice, cotton, chilli and tobacco. It is no exaggeration to say that farmers cultivate gold here. The area is in a stabilised ayacut of the Krishna. It is said that 35,000 acres of agricultural land will be acquired for the capital which is bound to claim very fertile agricultural land. In the quest to create an artificial asset, the new capital, why should a natural asset be destroyed? The case is an example why fertile land anywhere in this country must be protected at all costs. Besides this, there are thousands of migrant workers making a livelihood in the area. One would also like to question the wisdom of tapping Singapore’s expertise in developing a capital as it is a country where agriculture is alien. The development is a gross violation of environmental laws.

K. Venkateswarlu,

Chennai