Sitharaman urged to increase capital expenditure allocations for A.P. to ₹13.5 lakh crore

Lanka Dinakar seeks increased capital expenditure allocations and long-term loans for Andhra Pradesh development from Union Finance Minister.

Twenty Points Programmes Implementation (Vikasit Bharat 2047 and Swarnana Andhra 2047) Chairperson Lanka Dinakar submitted a memorandum to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on December 18 (Wednesday), seeking steps to continue the support of Central government to Andhra Pradesh.

In the memorandum, Mr. Dinakar requested Ms. Sitharaman to increase the capital expenditure allocations to ₹13.50 lakh crore in the upcoming budget.

For long-term interest-free loans to states for capital expenditure, an allocation between ₹2 lakh core to ₹2.50 lakh crore was necessary. Allow the additional interest-free long-term loans for irrigation projects in the drought-prone areas, particularly in the backward districts, he said.

Mr. Dinakar stressed the need for special allocations under Centrally sponsored schemes for skill development. For the implementation of PM Gati Shakti yojana, another opportunity for the States should be provided with additional allocations of ₹10 lakh crore to ₹15 lakh crore.

Under the “Purvodaya” scheme, a planned allocation of at least ₹50,000 crore is required for five States with a Central, State, and private partnership model, similar to the PM Gati Shakti, he said. 

Urging the Union Finance Minister to continue support for the Amaravati and Polavaram projects, Mr. Dinakar expressed gratitude for recognising Prakasam district as a backward district. “An assistance of ₹350 crore over seven years was sought for Prakasam district as was done for other backward districts,” he added.