With the budget session of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre is all set to commence on January 31, all eyes are on what favours Union finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman will shower on Andhra Pradesh when she presents her budget on February 1.
In the last Union budget presented soon after coming to power in the Lok Sabha elections for the third consecutive term, the NDA government announced huge financial benefits to Andhra Pradesh, including Rs 15,000 crore for Amaravati capital city, additional funds for Polavaram project, besides petrochemical complexes, industrial corridors etc.
Now, for the second consecutive year, the TDP-led coalition government is expecting further benefits to the state.
On Friday, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, after participating in the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, arrived in Delhi with a clear agenda to push for Andhra Pradesh’s priorities in the upcoming Union Budget.
First thing Naidu did after landing in New Delhi was to meet Nirmala Sitaraman and present before her the needs of the state to be represented in the Union budget.
He is also meeting several other key central ministers, including Union Jal Sakthi minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
There is also a possibility of him meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chandrababu Naidu is preparing to present a comprehensive set of proposals aimed at accelerating Andhra Pradesh’s development.
According to sources, Naidu has sought the Central assistance for Polavaram-Banakacharla river linkage project which is priority for the state’s irrigation and water resources infrastructure.
He is expected to request that the central government cover at least 50% of the required funding for this prestigious project.
The CM is keen to secure increased allocations for agriculture and rural development to boost farmers’ livelihoods in Andhra Pradesh.
With regard to industrial sector, Naidu will push for central incentives and policies that attract industries to Andhra Pradesh, including tax benefits and infrastructure support.
Given the ongoing flood risks in the Amaravati capital region, Naidu is likely to request additional funds for flood prevention infrastructure.
He may highlight the need for financial support from the central government to implement a new lift irrigation scheme alongside the Kondaveeti Vagu project.
