Hyderabad: The Centre has conveyed to TD MP T.G. Venkatesh that during the last two years the Centre had has released Rs 6,403 crores to Andhra Pradesh towards the Polavaram project and for construction of the capital city at Amaravati.
In a written reply to the MP, Union minister of state for statastics and programme implementation Rao Indrajit Singh stated that though the AP Reorganisation Act did not specify the quantum of funds to be released to the state, the Centre was providing funds under various projects.
He said Rs 2,803 crore had been given towards bridging the revenue deficit, Rs 700 crore towards seven economically backward districts (four in Rayala-seema and three in north coastal AP), Rs 2,050 crore towards capital construction and Rs 850 crore for Polavaram Dam, till March 31.
Similarly with the 14th Finance Commission recommendations AP will get Rs 22,212 crore annual grants for a period of five years, he said.
Outside Parliament, there was not much headway over the demand for special category status for the state, after TD president and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s directions to his party MPs to meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, besides raking up the issue in both Houses of Parliament.
After getting a hint from information and broadcasting minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, TD MPs under the leadership of Union minister Y.S. Chowdary met finance minister Arun Jaitley in the evening to know the Centre’s mind on their demand.
It is reliably learnt that Mr Modi, who was briefed by Mr Venkaiah Naidu about Mr Jaitley rejecting the demand in the Rajya Sabha and subsequent reactions in AP, including that of the CM.
Mr Modi reportedly asked Mr Venkaiah Naidu whether the three-member committee comprising Mr Jaitley, Mr Venkaiah Naidu himself and BJP president Amit Shah did not talk to the CM about the special package for the state.
After Mr Venkaiah Naidu replied in the negative, Mr Modi directed him to speak to Mr Jaitley as well as with TD MPs to sort out the special package. TD MPs did not get an appoint to meet Mr Modi in the evening.
