Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu today assured that all promises made in Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act would be fulfilled without fail.
“The BJP is committed for development of Andhra Pradesh”, he said and quipped that the “Congress has no moral right to criticize us”. He alleged that the Congress party has divided the State unscientifically and without any foresight.
Speaking to media after the NDA government has announced package to AP, he said the Centre would fill the revenue deficit of AP in five years.
The Union Minister said, “The Centre is committed to help and assist the newly created State of Andhra Pradesh. The commitments of the Centre emanate from four basic documents, namely, the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, the report of the Fourteenth Finance Commission, the statement of the then Prime Minister before the Parliament on 20.2.2014 and the Report dated 1.12.2015 of Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog on Developmental Support to the Successor State of Andhra Pradesh under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014.
Section 46 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act provides for a reference to be made to the Fourteenth Finance Commission to take into account the resources available to the Successor States and make separate awards to them. It further provides for a developmental package to be given to the backward areas of the State of Andhra Pradesh. It also provides for adequate incentives in particular for Rayalaseema and north coastal regions of the State.
Section 90 of the Act declares the Polavaram Irrigation Project as a National Project; Under Section 93, the details of institutions and infrastructure to be developed in the State are outlined in the Thirteenth Schedule to the Act; Section 94 provides for appropriate fiscal measures, including offer of tax incentives, to be given to the Successor States to promote industrialization and economic growth.
It further provides for support to programs for backward areas, including physical and social infrastructure. In addition, it provides for giving special financial support for creation of essential facilities in the new capital of the successor State of Andhra Pradesh, including the Raj Bhawan, High Court, Government Secretariat, Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council and such other essential infrastructure. Government of India has already legislated for fiscal incentives of enhanced investment allowance and accelerated depreciation. They will come into effect once notified, after the State of Andhra Pradesh identifies the eligible backward areas.
In respect of educational and other institutions, a Petroleum University has already been established. IIT has already been functioning from a transit campus and the main campus is being constructed. The National Institute of Technology has already been functioning since September 2015 in a temporary campus and its main campus is being constructed. The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Kurnool has already started functioning from the temporary campus and would start functioning and its main campus is being constructed. The site for the Central University in Anantapur district has already been selected. The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research has been established in Tirupati. The Indian Institute of Management has been established at Visakhapatnam. An All India Institute of Medical Sciences has been approved at Guntur and the land for the same is being taken over. A Tribal University is to be established in the State of Andhra Pradesh for which a Site Selection Committee of the State has already approved the land. A National Institute of Disaster Management is being established in the State of Andhra Pradesh for which identification and takeover of the land is being completed.
In Visakhapatnam, international flights are already operating. For further expansion, land has been identified at Bhogapuram. The State is to acquire and hand over land for development by AAI as per the standard terms for such development or develop on its own by PPP. A techno economic feasibility report is to be undertaken by State Government. For Vijayawada, MoU has been signed by AAI with Govt. of Andhra Pradesh to develop the existing terminal. The State is to acquire 698 acres of land required for the expansion as per the standard terms.
For Tirupati, the new terminal was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on October 22, 2015. A new apron for parking for 3 aircraft has been completed. The existing runway, apron and terminal building are adequate for commencing international flights. Expansion of new apron for parking additional 4 aircraft and isolation bay is under construction within the available land. The National Highway Authority of India has taken several steps for establishment of the National Highways in the State of Andhra Pradesh. The Railways is considering measures for establishing a rapid rail and road connectivity between the new proposed capital of Andhra Pradesh with Hyderabad and other cities in the region. The Government of India is actively considering proposals for the establishment of the Metro Rail in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali urban area.
Thus the Government of India has effectively addressed all commitments made to the State of Andhra Pradesh in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, the Fourteenth Finance Commission and the statement of the then Prime Minister on February 20, 2014, he added. (NSS)