A day after throwing the ball into Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s court, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is toying with the idea of coming out with a White Paper on the funds released by the Central government since 2014.
The State government is likely to come out with the White Paper in four-five days. The TDP has also challenged BJP leaders to an open debate on the issue.
Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao on Friday said that the government wanted to clear air on the Central government’s assistance to AP.
The BJP was confusing people on release of funds and implementation of the AP Reorganisation Act. The Centre sanctioned ₹103 crore for five institutions in 2015-16, ₹158 crore for 2016-17, ₹260 crore for 2017-18 and 245 crore for 2017-18.
In sharp contrast, the State government allotted 2,401 acres for the educational institutions. The government also spent ₹ 72 crore on creation of infrastructure, he said.
The Minister said that a majority of the national institutions sanctioned for the State were operating out of temporary campuses and cited IIM (Andhra University), NIT (private college in Tadepalligudem) and Kurnoool IIIT (Kancheepuram) as examples. The Central and tribal universities were yet to be established. I&PR Minister Kaluva Srinivasulu said the TDP would lend its support to anyone who fights to protect the interests of AP. He, however, made it clear that the TDP was not ready to join hands with YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
‘Dues stand at
₹9,000 cr.’
Social Welfare Minister N. Ananda Babu said the Centre should fulfil the commitments.
Planning Board Vice-Chairman C. Kutumba Rao said the Central government withheld ₹350 crore released under grant to backward districts in the State. The Central government had to clear dues of ₹9,000 crore, he added.
