The government on Tuesday announced a series of measures for development of Andhra Pradesh, including arranging <keyword id="20006597" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rs-15000-crore" source="keywords">Rs 15,000 crore</keyword> this fiscal and in future years for development of the <keyword id="19948211" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Capital-city" source="keywords">capital city</keyword> of the state. Presenting <keyword id="20387181" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget-2024-25" source="keywords">Union Budget 2024-25</keyword>, Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> said the government will also facilitate special financial support for development of the capital city. Besides, the Centre allocated over Rs 3 lakh crore for schemes benefiting women and girls and stated that it is fully committed for completion and financing of <keyword id="22237410" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Polavaram-irrigation-project" source="keywords">Polavaram irrigation project</keyword>. The minister also announced backward region grant for three districts of the state. The <keyword id="19910625" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telugu-Desam-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Telugu Desam Party" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Telugu Desam Party">Telugu Desam Party</keyword> (TDP) is a key ally of the BJP in the Centre. Political parties from Andhra Pradesh have protested time and again since 2014 demanding special category status for the state. Special category status is a classification of regions or states by the central government to provide special assistance in the form of tax benefits and financial support for development of the region. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024 Live Updates: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present her record seventh consecutive Budget today</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/expectations-from-union-budget-2024-25-how-will-this-budget-impact-you/articleshow/111946291.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/expectations-from-union-budget-2024-25-how-will-this-budget-impact-you/articleshow/111946291.cms" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024-25: How will this budget impact you?</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/heres-a-quick-overview-of-pm-modi-3-0-governments-first-budget-to-be-presented-by-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-today/articleshow/111944393.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/heres-a-quick-overview-of-pm-modi-3-0-governments-first-budget-to-be-presented-by-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-today/articleshow/111944393.cms" target="_blank">Here's a quick overview of PM Modi 3.0 government's first budget, to be presented by FM Nirmala Sitharaman today</a>

Centre to arrange ₹15,000 crore for development of capital city of Andhra Pradesh

New Delhi, Dec 2 () The ongoing mega Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh will be completed by December 2021 as per the revised tender floated by the state government, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said in Rajya Sabha.
 Responding to queries during Question Hour, the minister, however, said the completion of this project will depend on how fast the state government settle the issue of rehabilitation and resettlement (R&amp;R).
 The proposed Polavaram Irrigation project aims to irrigate 2.91 lakh hectares, generate 960 MW of power, and fulfil water needs of industries and 540 villages in Andhra Pradesh.
 "...this project is being constructed by the state government. The revised tender floated a couple of weeks ago by the state government. As per the new revised tender agreement, they have given the date of completion of the project as December, 2021. So, I hope, by December, 2021, this project will be completed," Shekhawat said in the Upper House.
 Treating it as a national project, the minister said the Centre had agreed to bear the cost of the project based on the 2014 expense estimate. However, a Revised Cost Committee (RCC) was set up to look into the cost escalation issue of the project.
 So far, two meetings have been held. In its second meeting held in October 2019, the RCC has sought details from the Andhra Pradesh government, he said.
 The information sought has been with regard to types of land identified for acquisition along with their quantities or cost as per the first and second RCC and also details of land acquisition and corresponding project displaced families as on March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2018, he added.
 "The state has submitted partial information in this regard. Findings or recommendations of the RCC is dependent upon satisfactory compliances by the state government on its observation," the minister noted.
 Responding to a supplementary on who will bear the escalated cost of the proposed project, including land acquisition, the minister said, "The difference is because of cost of the land acquisition and the issue related to R&amp;R. We have sought information. We will take a call after receiving the full information from the state."
 On displacement of tribals in Odisha due to large-scale submergence of Polavaram project, the minister said the concerns of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana governments are all pending in the Supreme Court.
 Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said "Polavaram is the lifeline for Andhra Pradesh and everything needs to be done."
 The cost of the Polavaram project is pegged at Rs 55,548.87 crore as per the second revised cost estimate done at 2017-18 price level, which has been accepted by the Jal Shakti Ministry.
 YS Jaganmohan Reddy-ruled Andhra Pradesh government had cancelled the contracts and gone to reverse tendering for Polavaram headworks and hydropower station. Infrastructure major Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) bagged the order. MJH LUX LUX SHW
SHW

Polavaram project completion expected by Dec 2021 but depends on R&R settlement: Centre

The Budget 2024-2025 announcement by Union Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> saw productivity and resilience in <keyword id="19931887" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="agriculture" source="keywords">agriculture</keyword> being prioritised above all else. With a desire to turn focus on <keyword id="19934969" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmers" source="keywords">farmers</keyword>, or Annadatas, ₹1.52 lakh crore has been allocated for agriculture and its allied sectors. This is quite an increase from the Interim Budget announcement of ₹1.27 lakh crore in February 2024. It is being speculated that this substantial focus on the agricultural sector stems from the BJP's vote share dipping in semi-urban and rural areas during the recent Lok Sabha elections. In fact, when Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> returned for a third term in office, the first file he signed was for the release of the 17th instalment of the PM <keyword id="22000840" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kisan-nidhi" source="keywords">Kisan Nidhi</keyword> scheme, ET reported. However, the government's commitment to transforming agriculture and potentially the lives of Indian farmers could lead to the agricultural sector growing at 3.7% in the current fiscal, compared to 1.4% last year, as per the CII. <h2>Key initiatives in agriculture</h2>Transforming Agriculture Research The government is set to conduct a comprehensive review of the agricultural research framework, with an emphasis on enhancing productivity and developing climate-resilient crop varieties. Funding will be allocated on a challenge basis, including to private sector initiatives. This research will be overseen by domain experts from both governmental and non-governmental organizations. Release of New Varieties A total of 109 new high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties of 32 field and horticulture crops will be introduced for farmers to cultivate. Promoting Natural Farming In the next two years, the government plans to transition one crore farmers to natural farming practices, supported by certification and branding efforts. This initiative will be carried out through scientific institutions and willing <keyword id="20030597" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gram-panchayats" source="keywords">gram panchayats</keyword>, with 10,000 bio-input resource centers to be established based on need. Missions for Pulses and Oilseeds To achieve self-sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds, the government will strengthen their production, storage, and marketing. As outlined in the interim budget, a strategy is being implemented to attain 'atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) for oilseeds like mustard, groundnut, sesame, soybean, and sunflower. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111930255" title="Economic Survey calls for urgent agricultural reforms; cites growth hurdles" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Vegetable Production &amp; Supply Chains Large-scale clusters for vegetable production will be developed near major consumption centers. The government will support Farmer-Producer Organizations, cooperatives, and startups to streamline the vegetable supply chain, including collection, storage, and marketing. Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture Building on the success of a pilot project, the government, in partnership with states, will facilitate the implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture over the next three years. This year, a digital crop survey for Kharif crops will be conducted in 400 districts, integrating details of six crore farmers and their lands into registries. Additionally, Jan Samarth-based Kisan Credit Cards will be issued in five states. Shrimp Production &amp; Export Financial support will be provided to establish a network of Nucleus Breeding Centres for shrimp broodstocks. NABARD will facilitate financing for shrimp farming, processing, and export. National Cooperation Policy A new National Cooperation Policy will be introduced to promote systematic and comprehensive development of the cooperative sector. This policy aims to fast-track rural economic growth and create large-scale employment opportunities. <h2>Budget allocation highlights</h2><ul><li>PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi: Will be retaining its allocation of ₹60,000 crore to provide direct financial assistance to 11.8 crore small and marginal farmers.</li><li>Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Allocated funds to provide crop insurance to four crore farmers, protecting them from adverse weather conditions.</li><li>e-NAM Expansion: Integration of 1,361 mandis into the e-NAM platform to enhance market efficiency and transparency, benefiting 1.8 crore farmers with an expected trading volume of ₹3 lakh crore.</li></ul><h2>Government committed to Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh</h2>The Finance Minister said that the government is fully committed to financing and expeditiously completing the Polavaram irrigation project, which is considered a lifeline for Andhra Pradesh and its farmers. <h2>Future directions</h2>The government aims to increase public and private investment in post-harvest infrastructure and supply chains, promoting aggregation, modern storage, and efficient processing to reduce losses and improve food security. Additionally, the dairy and fisheries sectors will see significant development, with initiatives to boost productivity and exports, contributing to a sustainable and prosperous agricultural ecosystem. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111951205" title="Budget 2024-25: Changes to tax slabs, increased standard deduction and other changes to direct taxation" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

What does Union Budget 2024-2025 have in store for farmers and the agricultural sector?

<keyword id="19896313" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh" source="keywords">Andhra Pradesh</keyword> Chief Minister <keyword id="19926151" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandrababu-Naidu" source="keywords">Chandrababu Naidu</keyword> on Friday met with Union finance minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> in the national capital where they possibly discussed various aspects of the southern state's developments. The meeting comes ahead of the much-awaited full budget of the central government for 2024-25. The budget is likely to be tabled later this month. Three Union ministers from Naidu's Telugu Desam Party who were inducted into the PM Modi-led Cabinet -- Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, were also present during the Andhra CM's meeting with Sitharaman. Naidu who is on a visit to Delhi had earlier called on Prime Miniseter Narendra Modi and seven Cabinet ministers -- Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Manohar Lal, and Hardeep Singh Puri. He brought multiple issues related to respective ministries to the notice of the Union ministers he met. Naidu also deliberated upon mechanisms to effectively coordinate for timely intervention and action by the Central government. The Andhra Chief Minister, during his meeting with <keyword id="19899320" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM-Modi" source="keywords">PM Modi</keyword>, highlighted that Andhra Pradesh continues to grapple with the repercussions of what he said is the unscientific, unfair, and unjust bifurcation of 2014. "I am confident that under his leadership, our State will re-emerge as a powerhouse among states," Naidu wrote on his X timeline after meeting PM Modi. Additionally, the "miserable governance" of the previous administration marked by "malice, corruption and mis-governance" has dealt a blow to the state than bifurcation itself, he said, as per a press note. He apprised the prime minister that the fiscal situation in Andhra Pradesh has significantly deteriorated. Committed expenses, including salaries, pensions, and debt servicing, exceed the State's revenue receipts, leaving no fiscal space for productive capital investment, he added. He sought financial handholding from the central government, including for state finances in short term, commissioning of the marquee Polavaram National Irrigation Project, support for completion of the Government complex and trunk infrastructure of the capital city of Amaravati, support to the backward regions of Andhra Pradesh on lines of Bundelkhand package, and support for development of Duggirajupatnam port. During his meeting with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Naidu requested him to release Rs385 Cr as land cost, for establishing Greyhounds Training Centre; and Rs.27.54 Crores towards operational cost; division of assets under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act 2014. He requested Shah to review Andhra Pradesh IPS cadre review, which he asserted has been pending since 2015. A cadre review is likely to enhance the present strength from 79 to 117. It was requested that the Andhra Pradesh police IPS cadre review may be scheduled at an early date. During the meeting with Nitin Gadkari, he requested for 6/8-lining of the existing highway from Hyderabad to Vijaywada; development of a greenfield express highway from Hyderabad to Amaravati; Vijayawada Eastern Bypass which will also decongest traffic within the city of Vijayawada; and 4-lane greenfield coastal highway from Mulapeta (Bhavanapadu) to Visakhapatnam. During a meeting with Piyush Goyal, financial assistance in the form of a grant to provide essential external infrastructure - such as industrial water, power, railway, and road connectivity - to identify 4 industrial nodes (3 in VCIC corridor and 1 in CBIC corridor) within the state was sought. The Andhra CM sought from Shivraj Singh Chouhan an integrated aquapark, sought to devise a policy for increasing the subsidy to horticulture farmers. He asked Hardeep Singh Puri to request BPCL to set up a refinery in the state. "An announcement towards establishment of a refinery in the State of Andhra Pradesh by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in the Full Budget Address of Hon'ble Finance Minister will augur well for increasing the refinery capacity of the Country in its journey towards the Country's ambitious vision to transform into a developed entity by the centenary of its independence in 2047," another press note said. In addition, the CM also had a fruitful meeting with Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission. 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Chandrababu Naidu meets Nirmala Sitharaman ahead of Union Budget

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/30148136.cms" />NEW DELHI: <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> and <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> are engaged in intense negotiations to hammer out an understanding over the creation of <keyword id="68884" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Telangana">Telangana</keyword>. 
 BJP has assured the government that it would not waver from its commitment to the creation of Telangana but is insisting on a specific pledge of financial support for Seemandhra region as the condition for supporting the <keyword id="37102" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword> Reorganization Bill, expected to be introduced in Parliament on Wednesday. The Union home ministry on Sunday sent a recommendation to President Pranab Mukherjee for introduction of the Telangana bill in Parliament. 
 
Sources said BJP is demanding a commitment for extending financial assistance worth Rs 17,000 odd crore to Seemandhra region through the Consolidated Fund of India to meet the revenue gap it will be saddled with, based on projections for the previous and current fiscal years, because of the transfer of resource-rich Hyderabad to Telangana as the capital of the proposed state. 
 
The party also wants the government to ask the Finance Commission to find ways of helping Seemandhra region with adequate funds on a long-term basis as a compensation for Hyderabad which generated Rs 24,000 crore in revenue. 
 
It also wants specific commitments in the coming fiscal year for projects that the two sides feel should be created in Seemandhra region for its development. 
 Congress sources confirmed that there have been several rounds of talks between party representatives including Union ministers from Andhra Pradesh and BJP <keyword id="19496" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="leader">leader</keyword> and former party president M Venkaiah Naidu. 
 
When contacted, Naidu confirmed that he had been talking to Congress representatives and that he had made it plain that BJP will support the AP Reorganization Bill if the government commits itself to take measures for the development of Seemandhra region. 
 
"BJP in principle favours the creation of Telangana. That has been our consistent stand. But at the same time, we want to ensure that the interests of Seemandhra region are also safeguarded. There is no conflict of interest between the people of the two regions. They are all Indians and they are all Telugus,” Naidu said. 
 
He claimed that while the Centre and the Congress agreed about the need to take special steps in Seemandhra region, they were reluctant to back up their statements of intent with commitments of financial support. "They are not ready to make a commitment for the provision of assistance to Seemandhra through the Consolidated Fund of India to help it bridge the revenue gap. They want to leave the matter to the Finance Commission which is not acceptable to us,” Naidu said. 
 
Naidu also demanded commitment of support for projects the two sides have agreed on like upgrade of existing airports at Vizag, Vijaywada and Tirupati to international standards, creation of an industrial corridor between Vizag and Chennai along the lines of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor and setting up of branches of central institutions located in Hyderabad such as DRDO, IIM and others. 
 
"I told them empty gestures of hand will not do. Put money on the table,” the BJP leader said. 
 Both sides said that while sticking points remained, they were in agreement on provisions of <keyword id="250148" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="40" keywordseo="The-Bill">the bill</keyword> such as declaring Rayalaseema region as backward and providing special incentives including tax holidays and exemption from central exercise for industry, creation of reservoirs in Seemandhra as part of the Polavaram project on Godavari, swift completion of six irrigation projects -- four in Rayalaseema and two in Telangana -- linked to Krishna river and a provision in the bill that education and employment opportunities in Hyderabad will remain open to people from both regions until Seemandhra gets its own capital. 
 
Naidu has also demanded creation of power plants of 4,000 mega watts capacity in the Telangana region. 
 
On the inclusion of Anantapur and Kurnool districts from Rayalaseema in Telangana, BJP is learnt to have said that it can be considered if the two regions agree.

You Searched For "Polavaram irrigation project" and got 5 results

Centre to arrange ₹15,000 crore for development of capital city of Andhra Pradesh

PTI

Polavaram project completion expected by Dec 2021 but depends on R&R settlement: Centre

PTI

What does Union Budget 2024-2025 have in store for farmers and the agricultural sector?

BI India Bureau

Chandrababu Naidu meets Nirmala Sitharaman ahead of Union Budget

ANI

BJP Seeks Financial Package For Seemandhra In Return For Telangana Support

Times Of India