AP left in the lurch: Guv

Our expectations on Union Budget did not fructify

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan on Saturday expressed disappointment over the meagre allocations to the State by the Centre. Delivering the customary address of the joint session of State Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, on the opening day of the budget session, here on Saturday, the Governor highlighted how the unilateral decision to bifurcate the State led to the residuary Andhra Pradesh inherit serious financial and other constraints.

“Our expectations for the State in the Union Budget 2015-16 did not fructify. Andhra Pradesh has lost significant resource base after division and is at a disadvantage to compete with its revenue-surplus neighbouring States. This has put the State at a great disadvantage which is not of its own making,” he said. “To compete with the developed cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, the Centre should give required assistance for a level playing field vis-a-vis its neighbouring states,” he said.

While expressing disappointment over the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, Narasimhan said that the State did not get the expected special status category. The State did not even get any special preference despite requests for “hand-holding support” to attain a level-playing ground and put the State on the path of development. He, however, expressed the hope that the Centre would give a helping hand to the State soon.

The Governor pointed out that the State had anticipated “a more favourable support from the Centre” during these few months. But the Centre had released Rs 650 crore towards Hudhud cylone relief and sanctioned Rs 350 crore under special package for seven backward districts and also an ad hoc financial support of Rs 500 crore towards non-plan revenue deficit, he said.

The Governor pointed out that the State had anticipated “a more favourable support from the Centre” during these few months. But the Centre had released Rs 650 crore towards Hudhud cylone relief and sanctioned Rs 350 crore under special package for seven backward districts and also an ad hoc financial support of Rs 500 crore towards non-plan revenue deficit, he said.

He further pointed out that all that the State has got so far from the Centre is just Rs 2,500 crore. With regard to the Polavaram project, in his address, Narasimhan said that a “meagre amount of Rs 100 crore” has put the State’s plans in disarray. However, he said, the State will make all-out efforts to complete the dream project by March 2018. Observing that the government is making efforts to bring the development agenda back on track, the Governor talked about the various initiatives of the government. Stating that nearly 33,000 acres of land has been “voluntarily” given by farm land owners for development of capital in the Vijayawada region, he said sacrifices made by the land owners would be remembered forever.