Chandrababu Naidu, Venkaiah Naidu press case on central funds for Andhra Pradesh

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu stressed their respective stands in relation to complaints from AP about lack of sufficient Central support to the state. The occasion was the foundation ceremony for a training centre of the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering Technology, held at Surampalli village in Krishna district here.

A while ago the Union minister had said the state and central governments should not criticise each other, while the Chief Minister had repeatedly expressed his displeasure over lack of fund allocations to the state from the Centre.

Mr Venkaiah Naidu referred to this at Friday’s function and said Mr Chandrababu Naidu always “asked for more” from the Centre. If the central government sanctioned a 10,000 capacity training centre, the CM would ask for a higher capacity. Likewise, the CM kept asking for more funds while the Centre had its financial limitations.

Mr Venkaiah Naidu, however, admitted that the Chief Minister was doing this only with a view to ensure the development of the state at a faster pace. Mr Chandrababu Naidu reacted to this and said undivided AP's bifurcation was unscientific and the residuary AP was facing hardships as a result. It had to start from scratch to set up a new capital. He requested the Union minister to help the state have a better deal from the Centre.

Now, the state is in the last position in terms of per capita income among the southern states, and the Centre should support him for developing the state, the CM said. The Chief Minister announced earmarking of 250 acres for the Plastic Park under the industrial zone in Mallavalli of Krishna district and 500 acres in Visakhapatnam for the same purpose. He allotted 25 acres for women entrepreneurs to establish their new units in Krishna district.

Union minister for chemicals and fertilisers Ananth Kumar said plastic recycling and environmental balance were major priorities of the day. Laying the foundation stone for the CIPET training centre, he announced that a similar institution would be set up in Anantapur which would train as high as 5,000 students.

A bulk drug yard would be established in AP and the National Institute of Pharma Training Centre would be set up in Visakhapatnam. MP Kesineni Srinivas, ministers P. Pulla Rao, Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, MLA Vamshi Mohan and several officials were present.