PM allays Seemandhra fears

Amidst unprecedented scenes of ruckus in the Rajya Sabha during the passage of the Telangana Bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday reached out to Seemandhra region by announcing special category status for five years for the successor state of Andhra Pradesh comprising 13 districts, including the four districts of Rayalaseema and the three districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh.
The Prime Minister’s intervention came amidst sloganeering by protesting MPs, who raised banners and continued to shout slogans of “Phaad Do Phenk Do! (tear it and throw it)” and tore up the bill.
Dr Singh said the government is taking specific steps to address the concerns of all regions of the state, particularly of Seemandhra.
He said the Central government will take appropriate fiscal measures, including offer of tax incentives to the successor states, in order to promote industrialisation and economic growth in both the states.
Dr Singh said the bill already provides for a special development package for the backward regions 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 Orissa and the Bundelkhand special package in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
Dr Singh also assured the House that the government will execute the Polavaram project and measures needed to facilitate smooth and full rehabilitation and resettlement for the project will be taken at the earliest.
Responding to concerns raised by the BJP and others, the Prime Minister said the appointed day for the formation of the new State will be fixed in relation to the notified date so as to enable preparatory work relating to personnel, finance and distribution of assets and liabilities to be completed satisfactorily.
Allaying concerns, Dr Singh further said the resource gap that may arise in the successor state of Andhra Pradesh in the first year, especially during the period between the appointed day and the acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations by the central government, will be compensated in the Union Budget for 2014-15.