Ongole: As the Centre grapples with
conflicting demand for special category status (SCS) from many states, Lok
Satta founder president Jayaprakash Narayan has suggested a compromise formula
for according SCS to Andhra Pradesh without hurting the interests of other
States.
Maintaining that Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister J. Jayalalithaa was in a way right demanding any industrial incentives
given to Andhra Pradesh should be extended to her State as well, Dr.
Jayaprakash Narayan told reporters that the Centre could consider providing
income tax and Excise duty concessions to about 60 to 70 backward districts in
the country, including those in Rayalaseema and north coastal Andhra as a via
media. In this manner, Andhra Pradesh with its vast coastline could leapfrog in
growth when compared to other states without inviting objections from other
states, he added.
He termed too minimal the
concessions like the additional depreciation and 15 per cent investment
allowance on the cost of plant and machinery during 2015-2020 period promised
by the Centre to the State.
Polavaram project
Full funding of the Polavaram
irrigation project was a blessing to the beleaguered State though its
construction progressed at a snail's pace, he said.
He opined that the second major sea
port in the public sector should be set up in Ramayapatnam as it was most
suited for the project when compared to Dugarajapatnam, which was close to
avian paradise of Pulicat lake andeconomically unviable because of its
closeness to Krishnapatnam, Ennore and Chennai ports. Vast stretches of the
government land was available in Prakasam district which had originally been
preferred for setting up the project by the State Cabinet before Dugarajapatnam
got the Centre’s nod but without any progress in grounding, he added.
Fund devolution
He also pressed for devolution of
Rs. 5,000-crore funds from the State to gram panchayats and wards to allow the
civic issues to be addressed by local bodies themselves.
He called for a thorough revamp of
the education system as according to a survey India stood at 73rd position
among 74 countries in terms of skills exhibited by children in the areas of
mathematics, reading and science.
Courtesy: The Hindu
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