Yanamala wants time-frame for implementation of AP Reorganisation Act

Amaravati: Finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said that the Central government has to take steps for resolving the issues pertaining to implementation of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, in a specified time frame.

Addressing at the 13th meeting of the Standing Committee of Inter-State Council in New Delhi on Friday, Ramakrishnudu emphasised the need for strengthening of the state governments, so that the country can grow as a strong and powerful nation, according to a release here. 

He said that, Kaijala App of the state government is providing the anti-corruption platform to the citizens of the state. Making it clear that the state is against any moves by Centre to bypass states and deal directly with local self-governments, he said Centrally-Sponsored Schemes (CSS), tend to erode state powers and resulted in skewed fiscal relations between the Centre and states.

“States should have control over the design and execution of the schemes based on their priorities and local initiatives. There should be no financial burden on the under the CSS,” he said.

Funds earmarked for states should not be tied to rigid conditions and the Centre should trust the states in CSS and allow the democratic and constitutional processes to ensure accountability on money spent in the name of development, he explained.

The council discussed various recommendations contained in Volumes-VI and VII of Punchhi Commission relating to environment, natural resources and infrastructure, and socio-economic development, public policy and good governance.

Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said that non-implementation of any provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act and the assurances made by the then Prime Minister on the floor of Rajya Sabha was against the spirit of cooperative federalism.

“The sense of neglect and betrayal being felt by the five crore people of AP is evidenced by the large scale agitations by people from all walks of life,” he said.  The cavalier attitude of the Union government was visible when it failed to respond to the requests from the state government and protests by MPs from the state on the floor of Parliament.  

On the Terms of Reference of the 15th Finance Commission, the finance minister demanded that 1971 census be taken instead of 2011 census as the basis for resource allocation. He added that if they take 2011 census then it would adversely affect southern states which have shown declining fertility rates and lower population growth rates. Levy of sugar cess after implementation of GST was against cooperative federalism principle, he said.

During discussion on Punchhi Commission, he said that the AP government would support some of the recommendations. At the same time, he maintained that it was of the firm opinion that the provisions relating to environment, ecology and climate change shall be in Concurrent List of the Constitution, to enable states to make legislations or regulations suitable to local conditions and shall not be taken to Union list.

He suggested that the Central government take immediate steps for release of Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA) in substantial measure instead of confining to release of interest earned on the fund.  This will enable states to properly utilise the funds on afforestation works.

He said that the National Water Resources Council needs to play a more pro-active role in formulating and integrating policy and programmes relating to use of precious water resources, time-bound resolution of inter-state river water disputes and inter-linking of rivers.

AP played a pioneering role in inter-linking of rivers, by linking Godavari and Krishna rivers, in a record 12 month period, which ensured about 15 per cent increase in yield in Krishna delta, he said. He said that the Central government should liberally fund such innovative projects taken up by states. He demanded union government to immediately allow share in the off-shore royalty to the state, particularly in respect of natural gas.

Drawing the attention of the participants to the Real Time Governance initiative of the state government, Ramakrishnudu said that with the help of state-of-the-art technological intervention and big data analytics sourced from the ground level in real time, Real Time Governance Centre (RTGC) acts as a place where the Chief Minister and his team can take decisions driven by data and ensure that the government is able to take right decisions impacting the lives of the citizen with the motto of ‘People First' leading to happiness index of 80 per cent.

In addition to RTG, the other initiatives under implementation are Fibernet, virtual classrooms, Wifi, drones, CC Surveillance, AWARE (AP Weather Forecasting and Early Warning Research Centre), e-Office, e-Pragati, bio-metric attendance and others, he said.