Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu on Tuesday alleged that the BJP-led NDA government has failed to implement the commitments made to Andhra Pradesh in the Reorganisation Act 2014 and the assurances given to it though four years have passed.
Addressing the Southern Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Bengaluru, Mr. Ramakrishnudu said A.P. expected Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate action at the earliest.
The Finance Minister said that six promises were made in the Rajya Sabha and 14 assurances were incorporated in the Act, but none of them had been implemented till date. Also, none of the subjects in Schedule IX, X, XI and XIII were addressed. The division of assets and debts mentioned in Schedule IX and X was not taken up, he pointed out.
‘Release funds fast’
The Centre was requested to sanction Phase II proposed development of fishing harbours at Machilipatnam and Nizampatnam under the Sagarmala Project.₹1,533 crore was required for development of the same and of this, the Centre has to release ₹766 crore as grant. Allocation of another ₹100 crore was necessary for the development of Pulicat lake and ₹16.5 crore to solve the problems being faced by fishermen in coastal areas, he said.
Referring to red sanders smuggling, Mr. Ramakrishnudu said that A.P., Tamil Nadu and Karnataka would have to take joint initiatives to check the illegal activity.
Stressing the need for development of tourism in the State, the Minister suggested that a train connecting Chennai, Tirupati, Srikalahasti, Vijayawada, Rajamahendravaram and Visakhapatnam be introduced.
On the terms of reference (ToR) of the 15th Finance Commission, Mr. Ramakrishnudu demanded that the 1971 census should be taken as the basis. The Centre’s proposal to the commission to take the 2011 census as the basis for resource allocation, would adversely affect southern States which have shown declining fertility rates and lower population growth rates, he said.
The meeting was held after a gap of nearly two years.