Lok Sabha Question No. 1046 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: Financial Assistance to Andhra Pradesh under Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Appalanaidu Kalisetti

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1046

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, JULY 29, 2024/SHRAVAN 7, 1946 (SAKA)

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ANDHRA PRADESH UNDER ANDHRA PRADESH REORGANIZATION ACT

## 1046. SHRI APPALANAIDU KALISETTI

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the total financial assistance allocated and disbursed to the backward districts of Andhra Pradesh under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, over the past five years, district-wise, especially to Vizianagaram district;
- (b) the details of key developmental projects undertaken in these districts with the allocated funds, particularly in Vizianagaram district;
- (c) the current status, progress and details of funds utilized for the allocated projects, over the past five years, district-wise, especially in Vizianagaram district;
- (d) whether any challenges or delays are being faced in implementing these projects and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  details  of  any  pending  proposals  for  additional  assistance  or  projects  in  these districts, including Vizianagaram district, along with the reasons for their pendency?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (e): The Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act (APRA), 2014, inter-alia, provides that the Central Government may, having regard to the resources available to the successor State of Andhra Pradesh, make appropriate grants and also ensure that adequate benefits and incentives in the form of special development packages are given to the backward areas of the State. The said  Act  further  provides  that  the  Central  Government  shall,  while  considering  the  special development package for the successor State of Andhra Pradesh, provide adequate incentives, in  particular  for  Rayalaseema  and  north  coastal  regions  of  the  State.  Accordingly,  seven districts namely, Anantapur, Chittoor, Cuddapah, Kurnool, Srikakulam, Vishakhapatnam and Vizianagaram in Rayalaseema and north coastal region of Andhra Pradesh were identified for grant  of  special  development  package.  NITI  Aayog,  in  its  report  namely  'Report  on Developmental Support to the Successor State of Andhra Pradesh under APRA, 2014' dated 1 st December, 2015, has, inter-alia, recommended a total amount of Rs. 2,100 crore for the

seven backward districts of Andhra Pradesh @Rs. 300 crore per district. This grant included Rs. 700 crore released in the Financial Year (FY) 2014-15 and FY 2015-16.

The developmental works executed in the seven backward districts of Andhra Pradesh by  the  State  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  under  the  aforementioned  package  include Panchayati Raj Roads, R&B Roads, Drinking Water, Drilling of Borewells, Energization of Borewells, Tribal Welfare, Minor Irrigation, Agriculture, Horticulture and Micro Irrigation, Sericulture, Dairy Development, Fisheries, construction of Anganwadi buildings, Medical and Health related works.

The releases towards development of seven backward districts of the State under the APRA, 2014 are based on recommendations of the NITI Aayog. The Union Government has released an amount of Rs. 1,750 crore for development of seven backward districts of the State under the APRA, 2014 to the State of Andhra Pradesh including the 4 th installment of Rs. 350 crore released on 31.03.2020 and the 5 th installment of Rs. 350 crore released on 31.03.2021. However, the Utilization Certificates of Rs. 1,049.34 crore only have been submitted by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh.

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