Centre Gives Only 28 Crore for Amaravati

In a move that attracts ire and flak, the Union Tourism & Culture Ministry has allotted as less as Rs 28 Crore for Amaravati, the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh. When Kothapalli MP Geetha and others raised questions, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Tourism and Culture Mahesh Sharma has given a reply in written in Lok Sabha on Monday. He 'proudly' replied that the government included Amaravati into 'Prasad' scheme launched by the ministry and allotted  Rs 28 Crore in this financial year.

So, the Tourism and Culture minister in written itself made it clear that Amaravati won't be getting more than this amount from his ministry for this year. What baffles many is that what can State government could do with this as low as Rs 28 Crore to attract tourists and preserving the culture,



heritage in the new capital city which is already in neck-deep financial woes and the state itself is going through an acute financial crunch.

For any state, the tourism is one of the important revenue generation sources and it is something one can't compromise. Given that already the truncated state lost its capital to Telangana and starting all from its scratch, Centre should have considered AP and Amaravati as special case. At a time AP CM Chandrababu Naidu is envisioning to make it as world-class capital city and make it as tourist hub, the so called '28 Crore' funds from Centre is definitely evoking laughs. Is this the reward for AP people for supporting Narendra Modi in general elections? And it's time for both Naidus (Mr Chandrababu Naidu, Mr Venkaiah Naidu) too take these seriously. Else people have to pay hefty price for this