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Special package ok: AP CM
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has expressed satisfaction over the NDA government’s offer of special package as a substitute for the special category status for the successor state. “
Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has expressed satisfaction over the NDA government’s offer of special package as a substitute for the special category status for the successor state. “
There is nothing wrong if I accept the package when it contains all the benefits guaranteed under the special category status,” Naidu said at a function in connection with the laying of foundation stone for the administrative capital complex at Lingayapalem on Friday.
The Chief Minister, however, urged Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who laid the foundation stone for the complex, to ensure legal sanctity for the special package. I
n fact, Jaitley was expected to make a positive announcement on the realization of the promise of the special category status in keeping with the public sentiment and mounting pressure from the Opposition parties on the issue.
Naidu accused the Opposition parties of spreading falsehood on the linkages between the industrial growth and the special category status.
“The Opposition parties are stating that the SCS with a slew of incentives will spur industrial growth. Let them prove that the special category status has such a provision,” he said.
The Chief Minister thanked the NDA government for its promise to finance the share of the state government in externally-aided projects and Centrally-sponsored schemes under the special package.
The special category status will enable the beneficiary states to raise only 10 per cent of the total cost of the projects even as the other states remaining outside the purview of the category are supposed to raise 30 per cent as their share.
In the same breath, Naidu maintained that he would not compromise on the interests of the state for the sake of his alliance with the NDA government. “We have asked the Centre to finance the revenue deficit to the tune of Rs 16,000 crore.
But it promised only Rs 7,000 crore of which Rs 4,000 crore was realized in the last 30 months since the bifurcation and we continue to seek our pound of flesh,” Naidu said.
Without touching upon the sensitive issue of special category status, Jaitley stated, “The Chief Minister is not alone in the gigantic task of capital building and rebuilding of the truncated state. Our government will be with Naidu all along in realization of his mission.”
The NDA regime has programmed to assist Rs 2.03 lakh crore during its current of five years term under different heads. Comparing his government’s ‘largesse’ with that of the previous Congress regime, Jaitley said the state had received only Rs 98,000 crore during the 10-year period of the UPA regime.
Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah showered praises on Naidu, describing the latter as a ‘workaholic’ toiling for capital construction. He expressed the hope that Amaravati would emerge as Greater Amaravati on the lines of Greater Hyderabad once the capital building is completed.
