Chandrababu asks Centre to keep its promises on division

New Delhi, Feb 9, 2015: AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu asserted that AP can not be equated with other states and the Centre can not ignore implementing its promises given to the people at the time of bifurcation. "The Centre has a responsibility to fulfill its promises as part of the AP Reorganisation Act," the Chief Minister told reporters after addressing the first NITI Ayog meeting here on Sunday. Recalling the promises of the then UPA Government that it would support the residual state till it attains the balancing act as far as its revenues are concerned, Chandrababu said the state has been facing resource crunch and the Centre must bear the financial burden. Besides being hit by the cyclone Hudhud, the state has also experienced 35 per cent revenue shortfall after division, he said. "In the meeting, I stressed on the need to fund capital city construction, development programmes, incentives for the industry and establishing 13 national educational institutions," he disclosed. Chandrababu Naidu also reminded the NITI Ayog that at a time when the AP was experiencing serious funds crunch, it is coming under severe pressure to implement PRC recommendations on pay hike for its employees. He also spoke of the need to link rivers Krishna and Godavari for efficient water management.