Telangana state on Thursday reiterated its demand for sanctioning of special package to TS which includes the sanction of Rs 30,571 crore for the next four-year from Centre for the development of backward areas.
“Telangana State may be considered for sanction of the special package and initial instalment of at least Rs 1,000 crore may be released immediately for the development of backward areas,” Rajender requested Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday.
Rajender called on Jaitley in Delhi and submitted four memoranda including the one on special package. Sources said the TS stressed its demand as it would bring pressure on Centre to extend assistance to it also, if the Centre announces any package or assistance to Andhra Pradesh.
“As per section 94(2) of the AP Reorganisation Act 2014, the Centre shall support programmes for development of backward areas in Telangana state. In accordance with this provision, the state government had submitted a proposal for special package in December 2014. Again, on the advice of NITI Aayog, a revised proposal restricting the special package to only two sectors, namely, Mission Kakatiya and Telangana Water Supply was prepared and submitted to the Centre seeking assistance amounting to Rs 30,571 crore, over a four year period during 2015-19,” Rajender told Jaitley.
Rajender told Jaitley that the state had assumed that the Centre would provide an aggregate Rs 25,223.49 crore. However, the actual funds received from the Centre so far was only Rs 13,074.5 crore.
According to state Finance minister Rajender, the Central government stated that the matter is under examination and requested the state to furnish the information about the status of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of the two proposed projects – Mission Kakatiya and Water Grid – along with the readiness of the launch of the projects. “Accordingly, the state government informed about the status but so far no amount has been released,” Rajender said.
“TS government has taken up Mission Kakatiya, Water Grid, Road development and augmentation of power generation in a big way. These have considerably added to the expenditure commitments of the state. In view of the huge commitment, the request of TS may be considered for sanction for special package and initial instalment of Rs 1,000 released,” Rajender told the Union Finance Minister.
CST Compensation:
Rajender also demanded the Union Finance Minister to release Rs 7,182.84 crore Central Sales Tax (CST) compensation due to Telangana state in one instalment. The minister reiterated the State government’s demand for approval to borrow up to 3.5 per cent of the GSDP. “Permit us to relax the FRBM limit, release the Central assistance and clear CST compensation amount early, as the new State Telangana required to implement several flagship programmes like Mission Kakatiya, Water Grid and others,” Rajender told Jaitley.
Supply Rice instead of Wheat:
In his representation to union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Rajender wanted the Centre to allot an additional quota of 80,000 tonnes of rice per month over and above the allotment under National Food Security Act (NFSA). He wanted the Centre to convert the wheat allotted to TS under NFSA as rice in view of the fact that the staple food in TS is rice.
“The increase in allotment of rice from 3,432 tonnes to 9,500 tonnes per month for Social Welfare hostels. Increase mandal labour (Hamali) charges to Rs 20 per quintal. Enhance custom milling charges from Rs 15 per quintal to Rs 30 per quintal of paddy for raw rice and from Rs 25 per quintal to Rs 50 per quintal paddy for boiled rice. Continue the levy at 25 per cent,” Rajender requested Paswan.
Source: The New Indian Express