Implementing special package to AP from 2016: Centre

Delhi, July 27: Responding to a question asked by BJP MP member GVL Narasimha Rao, Union Ministers of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Tuesday reiterated in Rajya Sabha that the Government of India cannot accord Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh.
 
However, he said that the Centre disbursed Rs 7,797 crore to 17 externally aided projects in AP from 2016 under special package. So far, the Central government sanctioned Rs 1,859 crore to Visakhapatnam-Chennai Corridor Project, Rs 935 crore for strengthening health sector in the state, Rs 897 crore to ‘Power For All’ scheme and Rs 825 crore to Andhra Pradesh Rural Roads Connectivity Project.
 
The AP has been constantly demanding the Indian government to grant SCS as promised in the Parliament during bifurcation of combined Telugu state in 2014.