Nirmala Sitharaman lists out development initiatives for Andhra Pradesh

New Delhi: Listing out initiatives she has taken for development of Andhra Pradesh as the Rajya Sabha member from the state, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said she has utilised the entire amount under the MPLAD scheme and facilitated setting up of several projects.

"MPLADs, just for records: fully utilized both years' funds for developmental work.Had Bhimavaram and Vizag declared centers of export excellence. Money for building export infrastructure comes through," Sitharaman said in a series of tweets.

She was responding to a query on Twitter on what Andhra Pradesh got for sending "you to Rajya Sabha apart from spending Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds?"

Sitharaman, who has completed her term as Rajya Sabha member from Andhra Pradesh, is now contesting from Karnataka.

She said that land has been identified in Amravati for setting up National Institute of Design, which is temporarily housed in Vijaywada. Land has also been identified for a campus for IIFT, for which foundation stone would be laid soon.

As Andhra Pradesh shall be a logistics hub, the minister said soon a foundation stone would be laid for setting up Indian Institute of Packaging.

"Mega leather cluster all ready to be set up in Nellore district. The Vizag- Chennai Industrial corridor, with Asian Development Bank having completed their study shall see major activity creating investment and jobs," she said.

"The Chennai-Bengaluru Corridor passes through Andhra Pradesh. Linking with it, have ensured Rayalaseema benefits from NIMZ (National Investment and Manufacturing Zone) also," the minister added.

Sitharaman said she has also worked for the cause of tobacco farmers when prices fell and procurements did not take off.

"Made Toorputallu and Pedamainavanilanka as the first villages to be run on solar power.

"All this in less than 2 years. Admit there is much more to do. Keep watching and questioning," she added.