AP gets Rs 1051cr central aid

The Centre has sanctioned 44 projects worth Rs 1,314.19 crore to the Andhra Pradesh government under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT).

The entire central share (80 per cent) of Rs 1051.35 crore has been extended as a grant, and of this the Centre has already released Rs 304.87 crore. The remaining Rs 262.84 crore would be shared between the state and the 31 urban local bodies concerned.

Terming the sanction as a windfall to the urban areas, chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy on Sunday said even tier-II towns in the state would get necessary infrastructure like drinking water supply, sewerage, storm water drain, roads and solid waste schemes with this grant.

With the timely receipt of the central grant, the chief minister directed the officials to immediately release the state's share of Rs 131.42 crore, and urged them to create a special cell to monitor the proper utilisation of central funds.

"Now that the funds are available, efforts should be made for providing daily water supply in all the 31 municipalities, and 100 per cent coverage of infrastructure development. Our goal should be to provide daily water supply as per norms to each and every household effectively in all towns and municipalities by 2009," the chief minister said.