Lok Sabha Question No. 390 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-05
Subject: Assistance under APRA
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: JAYADEV GALLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 390

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019/, MAGHA 16, 1940 (SAKA)

ASSISTANCE UNDER APRA

390.  SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 contains provision for assistance to be given to the backward districts of Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  assistance,  as  assured  by  Prime  Minister  on  the  Floor  of  the House, has to be on the lines of Bundelkhand and KBK districts and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is giving just Rs. 50 crore per districts per year for just three years and washing off its hands and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the constraints that the Government will have to fulfil the assurance given by PM;
- (e) whether it is not true that Rs. 350 crores have been released and deposited in the  account  of  the  State  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  and  immediately withdrawn again by the Government; and
- (f)  the  specific  reasons  that  the  amount  was  taken  back  after  deposit  in  the account of the State Government of Andhra Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a): Yes,  Madam.  Sections  46(2),  46(3)  and  94(2)  of  the  Andhra  Pradesh

Reorganisation  Act  (APRA),  2014  contain  provisions  for  assistance  to  the backward districts of Andhra Pradesh.

(b): The  then  Prime  Minister  stated  on  the  floor  of  Rajya  Sabha  that  the  Bill already  provides for a special   development  package  for the backward  regions

## LS.US.Q.NO.390 FOR 05.02.2019

of  the  successor  State  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  in  particular  for  the  districts  of Rayalaseema and north coastal Andhra Pradesh. This development package will be on the lines of the K-B-K (Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi) Special Plan in Odisha and the Bundelkhand special package in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

(c): Rs.  1050  crore  has  been  released  for  the  development  of  7  backward districts  of  Andhra  Pradesh  in  three  instalments  of  Rs.  350  crore  each  (Rs.  50 crore per district per year) by the Central Government. NITI Aayog in its report on Developmental support to the Successor State of Andhra Pradesh under APRA, 2014 dated 1st December, 2015 recommended a total amount of Rs. 2100 crore for the 7 backward districts of Andhra Pradesh @ Rs. 50 crore per district. This grant included Rs. 700 crore released in FY 2014-15 and FY 2015-16.

(d): The  Special  Plan  for  the  KBK  (Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi)  Districts  of Odisha was implemented under the State Component of Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF). Consequent upon the implementation of the recommendations of the  Fourteenth  Finance  Commission,  numerous schemes, including, 'Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF)' under the Special Plan became a part of devolution to the States. Accordingly, no fresh allocation has been made since 2015-16 to the States under the Special Plan.

(e) & (f): There was a procedural anomaly resulting in release and withdrawal of the sanction amounting to Rs.350 crore to Govt. of Andhra Pradesh.

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