As the new State of Telangana takes birth, the pitch for ‘special category’ status for the successor State has increased. During his recent visit to Delhi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-designate, N. Chandrababu Naidu, made a strong bid for the special package and financial assistance to the fledgling Seemandhra comprising 13 districts.
Though the UPA government promised it, sources say, the special category status requires discussion in the Planning Commission followed by the National Development Council. The proposal includes a six-point development package, comprising tax and industrial incentives as offered to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
The A.P. Reorganisation Bill already provides for a special development package for the backward regions of the successor State, particularly the seven districts of Rayalaseema and north coastal Andhra. This is proposed on the lines of the KBK (Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi) special plan in Odisha. Officials in the Planning Department here have already prepared the basic framework and are waiting for the new government to take office.
The special category status proposed for a period of five years is expected to put the State’s finances on a firmer footing. Fiscal measures like tax incentives are intended to promote industrialisation and economic growth in both the States. The special package includes expansion of physical and social infrastructure in the backward regions. It proposes setting up of a AIIMS type super speciality hospital cum teaching institute and National Institute of Disaster Management in the successor State besides tribal university one each in both the states.
Other infrastructure projects proposed are a new major port, IOC/HPCL crude oil refinery, Vizag-Chennai Industrial corridor, new railway zone, metro rail facility in Visakhapatnam and Vijaywada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority. Mr. Naidu has impressed upon the Centre to fulfil all its commitments with regard to special package to the State. He is apparently satisfied with the positive assurances.
