AP to seek royalty on oil & gas reserves

​Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will insist on a share of royalty from the off shore exploration of oil and gas reserves from the Krishna Godavari basin.Naidu said that he had already made a request to the Government of India for a share of royalty. “I have written to the Centre in 2015 about it.

I am going to take it up again with the Prime Minister. The Centre’s positive response would mean a huge relief to the financially constrained State of Andhra Pradesh,” he said when asked by The Hans India as to why the State Government was not seeking its share though the 12th Finance Commission had recommended it.

Brushing aside the criticism and accusations by the opposition parties on his style of developing the state, Naidu said that he has a clear roadmap for development. During next three years, he would focus on linking of rivers, laying of cement roads in every village, filling vacancies in government and creating job opportunities in private sector, increase food production in the state and take up gas grid mission.

Referring to Nava Nirman Deeksha and Mahasankalpam, Naidu said unlike the neighbouring state, people here have no occasion to celebrate. “After bifurcation, the state was pushed into several problems. It was a terrible situation so we decided that every year we should review what happened on June 2, what were the problems inherited and what we had achieved and what more needs to be done,” he said.

When asked about the criticism that the development was Amaravati centric, Naidu said, “It is what the opposition parties are saying. The Congress and YSRCP have hidden agenda. They want to stall all development so that they can have some political existence. But I am determined to develop the state as per the roadmap we have prepared.

I don’t want to waste time and energy replying to their baseless allegations. I have got data of GSDP and per capita income of the State, district and to mandal level. This year I will get data up to village level. The focus will be on the need-based development of backward areas.”

Denying that the government has not been able to reach out to the people, Naidu said, “the government and party was creating awareness among people. I cannot help if the opposition parties refuse to listen to what we say.”Replying to a question on the role of the Krishna River Management Board, Naidu said that he was not opposed to bilateral talks with Telangana.

“KCR has been my colleague in TDP for several years. But then it is not the job of the CMs to sit across the table and resolve each and every issue. As per the AP State Re-Organisation Act, the apex body has to decide on water sharing and that is what I am insisting. The situation has changed after bifurcation and now AP is lower riparian state and hence the apex body has to protect our rights,” he said.

Naidu claimed that AP had done better than Telangana State with regard to implementation of loan-waiver scheme despite being a deficit state. He also said that his government had taken measures to fill 10,000 vacancies in the government and soon notification would be issued. He said that he was confident of creating thousands of jobs in the private sector in next couple of years. He said it was also committed to implement the unemployment allowance once the financial situation improves a little bit.

The Chief Minister made it clear that there was no option for the AP secretariat staff but to shift to Amaravati. “They cannot take me for granted. I have agreed to all their demands. There are several employees’ organisations which is the reason for some issues cropping up. The government takes serious note of such behavior of the employees. I will not hesitate to take disciplinary action if necessary,” he cautioned.

Agreeing that there was a need to revive the party in Telangana state as most of the party leaders had joined TRS, Naidu said that TDP was a party meant for Telugus and there was no question of leaving TS. “The party will bounce back by 2019. I agree that some leaders have gone but cadre is intact,” he said.

When asked about the proposed fast unto death by Mudragada from Thursday, Naidu said, “he will not succumb to black-mailing tactics. It is now clear as to who is behind him. It is ridiculous to say that the government should not take action against those who set train on fire and attacked police stations. I have never compromised on law and order and will never compromise.”

By:V Ramu Sarma