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Telangana and AP officials to talk on split issues at Amaravati

There is a dispute between the two states regarding the sharing of funds released by the Centre for Centrally sponsored schemes.

Hyderabad: Finance department officials of both TS and AP are meeting on Wednesday at Amaravati to discuss inter-state adjustments between the states. There is a dispute between the two states regarding the sharing of funds released by the Centre for Centrally sponsored schemes, externally aided projects and others in the combined state of AP. TS is claiming that AP has to give about Rs 3,000 crore as its share, but AP is denying the TS argument as the funds were spent in the Telangana area.

The Centre had released Rs 1621.52 crore to AP (combined) for various Centrally-sponsored schemes. After bifurcation the amount had to be shared between both the states. As per the request of the TS government the AG adjusted Rs 169.46 crore in November 2015 and stated that this was TS share of the money amounting to Rs 955.75 crore. TS said the amount was not distributed as per population ratio as envisaged in the AP Reorganization Act. The TS argument is that out of the Rs 955.75 crore apportioned between the two states Rs 808.26 crore pertains to Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) of which Telangana got only Rs 143.44 crore.

The AG told the TS government that out of the 40 sanctioned projects amounting to Rs 665.87 crore, details of 30 sanctioned projects amounting to Rs 480.62 crore was available and stated that the share of TS is only Rs 16.96 crore. The TS argument is that since most of the schemes are of universal nature like old age pensions it should get its share on population basis.

Between June and October in 2014 the Centre had released Rs 478.68 crore for reimbursement of Externally Aided Project (EAP) loans. TS claims in this Rs 108.67 crore belongs to it as the projects are being executed in this region and the entire loan burden is borne by it. TS said that AP did not pay Rs 98.02 crore to TS for supply of nutritious food by the Telangana Foods Company. The TS argument is that AP has to pay Rs 208.24 crore as adjustment of excess input tax and Rs 141.69 crore towards excess payment by TS towards Power Finance Corporation bonds.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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