Andhra Pradesh to get Rs 50k cr in next 3 years

Tirupati: The Centre will waive excise duty to the new industries in Seemandhra region for the next 10 years, said Union minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh.
Speaking to the media here on Wednesday, Mr Ramesh said the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh is likely to get the fund flow to the extent of Rs. 50,000 crore from the Centre in the next three years.

According to the minister, special package is being given to 11 states in the country and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh will the 12th to get the benefit. The Centre will provide 90 per cent as grant and 10 per cent as loan under the special package. The grant will be 70 per cent and loan content will be 30 per cent if it is not a special package.

AICC president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi played an important role in sanctioning the special package similar to Budelkhand. Mr Ramesh said the Prime Minister had spoken about the development in six sectors as part of the special package while addressing the Rajya Sabha during the passage of the Telangana Bill. The sectors include education, agriculture, health and irrigation, among others.

The Centre will pay special attention for Galeru Nagari, Handri-Neeva, Velugonda and Telugu Ganga projects for the benefit of the people of Rayalaseema, he said.
Responding to a demand by Tirupati MP Dr Chinta Mohan to select Tirupati as the capital for the new state, he said that there are many such demands and an expert committee has been formed to submit a report on the issue within six months.

He said that Article 371-D will be in force in both the states and reservations pertaining to education in Hyderabad will continue for the next 10 years. “The 84,000 government employees working in Hyderabad will be distributed to both the regio-ns. Institutes such as IIT, IIM, AIIMS, Central University and Medical Colleges will be allotted to Seemandhra area. An action plan is being prepared for the development of Girijans,” he said.