Lok Sabha Question No. 2194 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-11
Subject: Special Status to AP
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: YERRAM VENKATA SUBBAREDDY, GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2194 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2015

## SPECIAL STATUS TO AP

## 2194.    SHRI  Y.V.SUBBA REDDY: SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  received  representations/demands  from  various  States  particularly Andhra Pradesh  for according Special Category Status;
- (b) if so, the details and the status thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  increase  the  amount  of  money  being  given  out  to  Andhra Pradesh, if so the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has any plan to give a special financial package to Andhra Pradesh keeping in view the various needs that have risen owing to the building of a new capital; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) & (b)   Government has received requests for according Special Category Status from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana and Jharkhand.  Special Category Status for plan assistance has been granted in the past by the National Development Council (NDC) to some States that are characterized by a number of features necessitating special consideration.  These features include:  (i) hilly and difficult terrain (ii) low population density and / or sizeable share of tribal population (iii) strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries (iv)  economic and infrastructural backwardness and (v) non-viable nature of state finances.  At present there is no proposal to modify the criteria for grant of Special Category Status to States.

(c) to  (e)    As part of the special package to Andhra Pradesh, an amount of Rs. 350 crore (at the rate of Rs. 50 crore per district)  was released for development activities in seven backward districts of Andhra Pradesh consisting of four districts of Rayalseema and  three districts of North Coastal region of Andhra Pradesh during 2014-15. During 2015-16 also special assistance of Rs. 350 crore (at the rate of Rs. 50 crore per district) was released for the development of these districts.

Regarding  the  financial  assistance  to  the  new  capital  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  the  Ministry  of  Finance, Government of India had released Rs. 500 crore to Andhra Pradesh for the construction of Raj Bhawan and Assembly etc. during 2014-15. Besides this, an amount of Rs. 1000 crore had been released to Andhra Pradesh during 2014-15 by Ministry of Urban Development for creation of essential urban infrastructure for the new capital region of Andhra Pradesh under following two projects :-

- (i) Storm water drainage scheme at Vijayawada city (Rs. 460 crore) and
- (ii) Comprehensive underground sewerage scheme at Guntur city (Rs. 540 crore).

Besides this, the Ministry of Finance, Government of India has released an amount of Rs. 350 crore for the new capital of the State during 2015-16.

--------

- --------