Spat over release of Central funds to State

Andhra Pradesh gets huge funds from Centre, says Vishnu Kumar Raju

P. Vishnu Kumar Raju

The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs engaged in an argument over release of funds and grants by the Centre to the State, in the Assembly on Wednesday.

The Telugu Desam MLAs took objection when BJP floor leader P. Vishnu Kumar Raju commented that the people of Andhra Pradesh should thank the Centre for releasing huge funds to the State. No other State in the country received so much funds, he said during the question hour.

Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu giving a reply to a question raised by YSR Congress MLA Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, who was not present in the House (YSRC MLAs have been boycotting the Assembly demanding action against the YSRC MLAs, who defected to TDP), said that the Centre’s approach towards the States was against the spirit of cooperative federalism. The funds and powers were being centralised of late, which was not a good sign in democracy, he said.

Taking a dig at the BJP MLA, the Minister said: “the BJP MLA’s comments buttress the theories that the YSRCP would sail with the BJP.” The MLA’s observations were giving an impression that he was supporting the YSRCP MLA question.

‘Lack of understanding’

TDP MLA Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary observed that BJP floor leader’s comments exposed his lack of understanding. Kuna Ravi Kumar said that the AP did not receive any special assistance or favour. In fact, AP received funds like any other State, he said. BJP MLA Akula Satyanarayana said that AP received more than ₹50,000 crore towards centrally-sponsored schemes, while other States such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu received ₹14,000 crore to ₹15,000 crore.

The Minister earlier said that the State government received ₹2,17,198 crore from April 2014 to March 12, 2018. It includes ₹5,595 crore towards the Polavaram project. The government received ₹22, 252 crore towards revenue deficit grant, including ₹6,283 crore released for financial year 2014-15. Also, ₹1,400 crore was received for development of backward regions (Seven districts). The Centre released ₹2,000 crore as grants for Capital city and ₹920 crore for storm water drainage scheme in Vijayawada and ₹1,080 crore for comprehensive underground sewerage scheme in Guntur. About ₹200 crore was received for Godavari pushkarams and ₹13,888 crore towards block grants (2014-15)/special assistance, he said.

Goods and Services Tax

To another question on Goods and Services Tax (GST) by TDP MLA Dhulipala Narendra Kumar, the Minister said that the State received ₹382 crore as GST compensation.