Centre ignored even NITI Aayog recommendation

Amaravati: Finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu alleged that the Centre was ignoring the recommendation of even NITI Aayog to release Rs 350 crore under special assistance to seven backward districts in the state.

Speaking to The Hans India at the Secretariat here on Wednesday, Ramakrishnudu said the NITI Aayog, in its letter to the department of expenditure under ministry of finance, Government of India, in November requested release of the funds to Andhra Pradesh. In fact, this was the second letter from the NITI Aayog to the Central government on the subject.

Earlier in February, 2018, too NITI Aayog suggested to the Centre to release the funds, which were withheld from the state government after they were released for the financial year 2017-18. In its letter to the Union government, the NITI Aayog suggested to the Centre to consider release Rs 350 crore for the financial year 2017-18 to the State of AP as the Utilisation Certificates (UCs) furnished by it were in proper format.

The finance minister said this shows the intention of the NDA government to create hurdles to the development of the state. According to NITI Aayog letter, the state attached the details of UCs furnished to the Government of India for Rs 946.47 crore and requested release of Rs 350 crore each for the financial years of 2017-18 and 2018-19 under the special development assistance.