FDNA For Sanction Of Rs 50k-Cr Special Package For N Andhra

Visakhapatnam: Forum for Development of North Andhra (FDNA) has urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to sanction a special package of Rs50,000 crore for development of backward areas of North Andhra based on the Andhra State Reorganisation Act to facilitate completion of pending irrigation projects.

In a letter to the Finance Minister, FDNA general secretary A Ajay Sarma stated on Tuesday that before finalisation of the Union Budget, she should take into consideration the Section 46(3) of the Andhra State Reorganisation Act, 2014, for providing special funds to the backward regions of North Andhra and Rayalaseema for their development. "But during this ten-year period, the funds provided by the Centre were only a nominal Rs100 crore per district. No development has taken place during this period. Rs50,000 crore should be allocated for the speedy construction of pending North Andhra irrigation projects," he said.

Functioning of the new South Coast Railway zone should be started immediately from a temporary campus with continuation of Visakhapatnam railway division, pending construction of the buildings, he said while citing that as per Section 93, full funds should be allocated to tribal and petro universities and the construction should be completed on a war-footing. Permanent faculty should be appointed in IIM (V).

Sarma said the construction of Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada Metro Rail should be started immediately as per the Act. Funds should be given in the form of grants for the construction of the capital of Andhra Pradesh as per the said Act but not as loans.

6. As per Section 90 of the said Act, since Polavaram is a national project, funds should be allocated for the rehabilitation package of the displaced.

Reiterating the demand for special status to the State, he said the decision to privatise Visakhapatnam Steel Plant should be withdrawn and its own mines be allotted. It should be merged with SAIL, he stated.