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State Reorganisation - Union's Commitment - Status Report

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limits. The Union also declined the <strong>State</strong>’s<br />

request to disburse Special Assistance in<br />

other forms like repayment of loans due to<br />

Government of India and its parastatals.<br />

Given these circumstances, if the benefit of<br />

Special Assistance to a tune of<br />

Rs.16,447 Crore were to be extended to<br />

Andhra Pradesh <strong>State</strong>, it is necessary to allow<br />

the <strong>State</strong> to avail the Special Assistance in the<br />

following manner:<br />

1. Repayment of EAP loans and interest<br />

2. Repayment of principal and interest of<br />

Special Development Loans by<br />

arrangement of set off with RBI<br />

3. Repayment of other dues with loan and<br />

interest to Government of India by<br />

adjustment<br />

4. Repayment of loans and interest due to<br />

parastatals of Government of India<br />

including Small Savings, NABARD, and<br />

NCDC by transfer of funds by<br />

Government of India, in lieu of repayment<br />

by Government of Andhra Pradesh<br />

5. Repayment of loans with interest to other<br />

parastatals including PFC, REC,<br />

HUDCO; repayment may be made by<br />

direct transfer by Government of India to<br />

these parastatals on account of Andhra<br />

Pradesh <strong>State</strong> parastatals. Necessary<br />

budgetary arrangements should be<br />

made by Government of Andhra Pradesh<br />

to adjust for these payments<br />

6. As Government of India takes over<br />

responsibility to repay EAP loans, the<br />

<strong>Status</strong> <strong>Report</strong> - Union’s <strong>Commitment</strong> to Andhra Pradesh<br />

liability of EAP may be taken out from the<br />

accounts of Government of Andhra<br />

Pradesh, and the amount may be<br />

exempted from FRBM limit<br />

7. Government of India may treat 90% of<br />

EAP amount as grants to Government of<br />

Andhra Pradesh on par with the Special<br />

Category <strong>State</strong>s<br />

8. The amount of Rs. 16,447 Crore would<br />

be a significant commitment for<br />

Government of India given its strained<br />

fiscal position. It is therefore suggested<br />

that the Union Government could consider<br />

issuing short/medium tenure AP Relief<br />

Bonds to raise these resources as well<br />

as other financial obligations as part of<br />

Special Assistance towards Andhra<br />

Pradesh<br />

The purpose of the Special Assistance in this<br />

case is clearly to give the <strong>State</strong> of Andhra<br />

Pradesh the benefit equal to 90% share of the<br />

Union government in Centrally Sponsored<br />

Schemes during the five-year period. This<br />

amount is estimated at Rs. 16,447 Crore. The<br />

EAP window is wholly insufficient to extend the<br />

intended Special Assistance to the <strong>State</strong>.<br />

Even in the best case scenario, the total<br />

assistance under EAP will not exceed<br />

Rs. 4,000 to 5,000 Crore. In actual fact, as of<br />

December 2018, over three years, nine<br />

months, a paltry amount of Rs.15.81 Crore has<br />

been the assistance extended to the <strong>State</strong>. By<br />

insisting on EAP window as the sole means of<br />

assistance, the purpose of special assistance<br />

is defeated.<br />

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