Centre to give Rs 7,000 cr to AP govt

Hyderabad, Dec 31: Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu on Wednesday revealed that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has agreed to release Rs 7000 crore to the state as part of Central Sales Tax compensation for the fiscal 2010-11. Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, the finance minister said that he recently discussed the issue with Arun Jaitley, who assured that the amount will be released by February 2015. Ramakrishnudu explained that the central government was to release Rs 13,000 crore to the undivided AP as CST compensation for fiscal years from 2010-11 to 2012-13. Of this, AP is expected to receive Rs 7,000 crore. The balance is to be given to Telangana. Ramakrishnudu said the finance ministry will first release Rs 1,300 crore to both AP and Telangana by February. He said the balance would be given after the union budget, he said.