As the relationship between the Bharatiya Janta Party and the Telugu Desam Party weakens, the Center announced Rs. 1,269 crores to Andhra Pradesh under different projects. The TDP was disappointed after the Union Budget had no mention of Andhra Pradesh.
The Center allocated Rs. 417.44 crore for the Polavaram multipurpose project. An order issued by the Union Water Resources Ministry’s Senior Joint Commissioner, R.P.S. Verma read, “The release (of Rs. 417.44 crores) is towards the amount already utilized by the state against the irrigation component (of Polavaram) after April 1, 2014.”
The Center had already given Rs. 4,329 crores through the Polavaram Project Authority. On the other hand, the Andhra Pradesh Government stated it spent over Rs. 7,200 crores.
A memorandum was prepared and submitted by Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu to the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, last month. The memorandum explained a total sum of Rs. 3,217,63 crores spent on the Polavaram Project is yet to be reimbursed to the State.
Last night, the Center allotted an additional Rs. 369.16 crores for the post devolution revenue deficit grant. This was a recommendation made by the 14th Finance Commission to Andhra Pradesh.
A separate Rs. 253.74 crores were released as a basic grant to the urban local bodies in the State. The Center also gave Rs. 196.92 crores for the Anganwadi Services Scheme and the supplementary nutrition program. Another sum of Rs. 31.76 crores were allocated for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Program.
