Centre Delivers On Sec 94 To Andhra, Refuses The Same To Telangana

Section 94 Clauses 1 & 2

Fledgling Telangana State was counting on central assistance as promised under Section 94 of AP Reorganization Act. Clauses 1 and 2 of the Act say -

94. (1) The Central Government shall take appropriate fiscal measures, including
offer of tax incentives, to the successor States, to promote industrialisation and economic
growth in both the States.
(2) The Central Government shall support the programmes for the development of
backward areas in the successor States, including expansion of physical and social
infrastructure.

Quite curiously, centre delivered to Andhra on the promises made in this section but refused the same assistance to Telangana. While many states are alleging partisan behavior on the part of ruling BJP towards States ruled by it and it’s allies, the Telangana case is even more peculiar as the newly carved out state is mandated the support in AP ReOrg Act and it is rightly asking the question on how the Centre can implement the Act for one State while ignoring another who is also party to the same Section and clause.

Under the clause 1,the budget alloted Vizag-Chennai Industrial corridor, the Kakinada hardware hub, Krishnapatnam smart city etc to AP.

Under the clause 2, the budget made allocations towards increasing the infrastructure through AIIMS, IIT and Excise and Customs Institute. Several such projects like NID have already been moved to AP from Telangana in last few months, even before this budget.

While Telangana just got a horticultural university and it didn’t figure anywhere else in the budget.

While Telangana would only be happy about what AP could manage from Centre, it is difficult to digest such blatant partisanship on the part of Centre while implementing the same statute differently for 2 states.