Naidu said he requested the Centre several times about according special status and visited Delhi 12 times on this issue.
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is no longer fighting for special category status with the Centre, it’s all about implementation of the package announced by it. After the Assembly was adjourned on Friday, Mr Naidu told the media: “After two and a half years, the Centre has said that granting special category status will not be possible. But it has promised a package to AP that will be equal to the benefits under special category status.
“I am accepting the package; I am requesting the Centre to grant special status if possible." He added that he had written to the Centre to give statutory assurance on every issue mentioned in the package.
Mr Naidu said for the Polavaram project, the Centre had earlier assured financial assistance at a 90:10 ratio, but folding under pressure, it had agreed to fund 100 per cent of the project.
The Centre, however, has said that it will give funds for Polavaram for the irrigation component and not power component. Mr Naidu said he was happy with it but added that the Centre would have to bear the relief and rehabilitation package (RR package) expenditure for the project, and also land for the displaced people as per the Land Acquisition Act.
Mr Naidu said he had requested the Centre several times about according special status to AP and had visited Delhi 12 times on this issue. But the Centre said granting special status to AP would not be possible.
He added: “Our policy is to take whatever the Centre gives and fight for what the state requires."
He also said that there would be no compromise on a separate railway zone to AP with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters.
