The silence on funds for the new capital of Andhra Pradesh and metro rail projects for Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada - Guntur, are some of the negative posers of Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, in the Central budget in the post bifurcation scenario in Andhra Pradesh.
People and leaders alike had expected at least a token allocation of funds for the capital city in the budget, as the Sivaramakrishnan panel is expected to submit its report soon and the confusion surrounding its location will be cleared in a couple of days .Even the TDP chief and AP CM Chandrababu Naidu who had reposed total faith in the NDA and hoped for indicators in the budget was disappointed at the out come .But as a statesman and one not wanting to burn the birdges with the BJP and NDA so early ( unlike his Telangana counter part) Chandrababu Naidu had chosen to do a tight rope walk in racing on the budget “It is a sweet and sour budget for AP” he had said finally.
Despite lack of mention in the budget, some like senior TDP leadership is very hopeful that NDA and BJP will not abandon TDP and AP.“The finance minister has assured that the Centre is committed to fulfilling all the promises made in the AP Reorganization Bill. The issue of funding for capital can be taken up once the location is finalized,” says the finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu.
In fact, soon after taking charge as CM, N Chandrababu Naidu had appealed to the people to extend financial support for the new capital. The state government has even opened a separate bank account for receipt of donations from the general public and announced income tax relief for the donors. Naidu has hinted that the capital would come up between Vijayawada and Guntur, and donations have been pouring in.
Chandrababu described the central budget as a bold step forward to put the country badly hit by mismanagement and scams of UPA govt on the track. The hike in IT tax ceiling for personal tax is a good thing for the middle classes who supported both TDP and BJP. Also allocations for IITs, AIIMS etc will help advance scientific research and education .But Naidu said the budget also was not highly optimistic for the states like AP which was still nursing the bruises of unjustified bifurcation of the state. The Kakinada hardware proposal will go a long way in promoting employment and revenues . The Funds for AIIMS, IITs and IIM will help the new state to promote education in a big way .The proposal of Vizag-Chennai industrial corridor will promote urban and rural infrastructure. In a nut shell the budget has opened up the Pandora's box of positive developments for AP.
Chandrababu Naidu has set up seven missions to speed up industrial and other developmental activities in the residuary Andhra Pradesh. Social sector mission, Primary mission, Skill development mission, Infrastructure mission, Industry mission, Service sector mission and Urban development mission are seven missions. These mission go a long way to usher in austerity, avoid wastage, as AP is facing a fiscal deficit of Rs.15,000 crore already.
AP as one of the Pilot states of the 24x7 power states is all set to earn a special place on the global IT/service/Transport/infrastructure map of the world. “Yes we are facing fiscal crunch, but soon it will be a thing of the past as we commence our missions and become fully operative in our state with our own brand new capital,” Says Chandrababu. Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says “positive thinking and optimism is the first step on ladder of success”. As Ravishankar's ardent follower, TDP chief Chandrababu has always used every opportunity - good or bad for the betterment of society and of course for his political emancipation without fail.
Sour on T Share
Telangana govt did not get any special incentives in NDA's annual central budget except for an Central Horticultural University. But KCR is keen that he would re haul the entire system to rejuvenate the Administration and environment with special initiatives to see that Telagnana would emerge on top of other states in south in spite of hurdles of power, water sharing and also manpower shortfalls.
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