Sunday, Oct 12, 2003
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Andhra Pradesh
By Our Staff Reporter
The issue figured in discussions between the two Ministers while reviewing urban development programmes in the State with top officials. Later, a memorandum submitted to the Union Minister with the point was released to the press. They quoted Mr. Reddy as saying the aid of Netherlands to the State is substantial and significant. The Dutch Government supports programmes in the State in the urban and rural sectors and in the fields of environment and watershed development. But, the recent decision of the Department of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Finance forbidding aid from small donor countries had cast a cloud over the chance of getting Rs. 1,400 crores for grounding projects which are in the final stage of approval or sanction by the Netherlands Government. The Dutch assistance to the State for ongoing programmes to the tune of Rs. 250 crores was also likely to be affected, Mr. Reddy bemoaned. Mr. Reddy specifically mentioned a watershed development programme of Rs. 540 crores in the backward Telangana which was due for sanction by the Dutch Government at which point of time the Indian Government said "no for Dutch aid'. This proposed programme also had political significance, he added. The A.P. Well and Beyond programme (2003-08) of Rs. 360 crores which aims at improving rural livelihoods in seven drought-prone districts and the A.P. Municipal Development Programme (for classes II and III towns) for Rs. 300 crores are also put on hold by the decision. There were six other projects of smaller values which Mr. Reddy highlighted. Mr. Reddy said as the external aid is presently accepted from Japan, the US, Germany and the UK, the Royal Netherlands Government could also be added to the list. But, in case the proposal could not be considered, all the projects proposed by the State could be taken up as special projects with additional Central assistance so as to continue the tempo of development in the State. Later, talking to newsmen, Mr. Dattatreya said he would request the Finance Ministry to allow the State get aid from the Dutch Government at least for the ongoing programmes.
Rs. 814- cr. assistance sought
In a separate development, the Municipal Administration Minister met Mr. Dattatreya, and presented a memorandum seeking a Central assistance of Rs. 814 crores, excluding the regular Central budget, on issues pertaining to municipal administration and urban development in the State. The two Ministers earlier reviewed all Centrally-sponsored schemes with senior officials. Among the releases sought by the State Government were, Rs. 50 crores under Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana, Rs. 50 crores under the National Slum Development Programme, Rs. 23.5 crores under the Megacity project and Rs. 380 crores for Anantapur, Hindupur and Jangaon water supply improvement schemes and Kakinada underground drainage scheme. The Government also sought inclusion of the Rs. 820-crore Krishna drinking water supply project in the mega city scheme and sanction Rs. 205 crores as a special case.
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