Centre will fulfill promises made to AP in record time: Naidu

New Delhi: Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Thursday that the central government would fulfill its commitments under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and it had taken several steps for the state’s development.

Taking part in a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the implementation of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, Naidu said: “A defence project is coming-up in Kurnool. The airports of Tirupati, Vizag and Vijayawada are being upgraded. In fact, the up-gradation of Tirupati airport is almost completed.”
“No government has done so much in history for Andhra Pradesh,” Naidu said. The only measure of granting special status to Andhra Pradesh will not solve all the problems of the state automatically, he said.

Regarding polavaram irrigation project, Venkaiah Naidu said it was not possible to complete such a big project in two years.

Replying to a query regarding slow progress in the completion of Polavaram irrigation project, the construction in which started in 2004, Naidu said it was not possible to complete such a big project in two years.
“The government is very much committed for the development of Andhra Pradesh. The government is developing highways in Andhra Pradesh. It has also started a power project in Anantpur district,” Naidu added.

Initiating the discussion, Congress member Jairam Ramesh asked NDA government about the status of implementation of assurances given by the UPA government while the Act was passed.
He said there had been assurance of giving special category status to Andhra Pradesh for five years.
The Congress had earlier been pressing for taking up of a private member’s bill for grant of special status to Andhra Pradesh and had forced adjournment of the house on the issue.
Telangana was carved out as a separate state out of Andhra Pradesh following the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill in 2014.

IANS