Centre Expedites Project Fund Release After Change Of Guard In Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati: With the change of guard in Andhra Pradesh , there is an improved relations between the state under Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and the Centre. In the last two weeks, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cleared bills to the tune of over Rs 4,200 crore under three heads for the Andhra Pradesh.

On Thursday, the Centre has approved the release of Rs 3,000 crore towards reimbursement of funds spent by the state government on the Polavaram irrigation project on river Godavari. The river project has been declared a national project and the Centre has to bear the costs. Till date, while the state government has spent Rs 11,655 crore, the Centre has released Rs 6,726 crore.

Andhra Pradesh special chief secretary, irrigation, Aditya Nath Das said that the sttate had asked for 4,922 crore and in that the Centre has released Rs 3,000 crore.

He added that file has been sent to the Finance ministry and who later sent it to NABARD [National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development], which will release money to the state government through the Polavaram Project Authority.

The Centre is examining the revised project estimates and the approval will follow shortly.

Due to strained ties between the Centre and the previous Telugu Desam Party government headed by N Chandrababu Naidu, Centre had not released the Rs 4,929 crore to the state.

While approving the release of Rs 3,000 crore immediately, water resources ministry officials said the balance of Rs 1,929 crore would be released once the utilization certificates were submitted.

The Union rural development ministry, on Thursday, approved release of another Rs 708.65 crore under the employment guarantee scheme to Andhra Pradesh. The Centre also released Rs 534 crore towards food subsidy for procurement of rice for the mid-day meal scheme and Antyodaya Anna Yojana.

Also Read: Special Category Status Lifeline Of AP: YS Jagan At Niti Aayog

Also Read: YSRCP Will Restore Democracy In Assembly, Affirms YS Jagan

Also Read: Tammineni Sitaram Unanimously Elected As Speaker of AP Assembly

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi Office Rules For New Cabinet MinistersSpecial Category Status Lifeline Of AP: YS Jagan At Niti Aayog