Hyderabad: Despite the promises of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on honouring AP Reorganisation Act, there is very little for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to cheer about. All that Telangana got was a meagre Rs 57 crore while AP could get Rs 319.26 crore budget allocation

Out of the budget allocation of Rs 57 crore, an amount of Rs 55 crore was allocated for IIT in Hyderabad and the remaining Rs 2 crore for setting up a Tribal University. “We will respect this Act (AP Reorganization Act) and offer all help and cooperation to complete the promises made in this,” Jaitley said in his budget speech on Saturday.

Though Telangana could not get its due share in the Union budget this time, the Finance Minister said heritage status would be given to Qutb Shahi Tombs in Hyderabad besides releasing funds to protect the historic tombs. Jaitley offered to extend cooperation to two Telugu states to settle their issues and put on growth trajectory in the days to come.

This is possible through disbursement of 42 per cent of Central sales tax as was sought by the states, he said. Andhra Pradesh got funds for IIM (Rs 40 crore), IIT (Rs 40 crore), NIT (Rs 40 core), IIIT (Rs 45 crore), Central University (Rs 1 crore), Tribal University (Rs 2 crore) and IISCER (Rs 40 crore).

Besides, AP would get Rs 100 crore for the Polavaram Irrigation Project, Rs 5.63 crore for the Vijayawada Metro Rail Project and Rs 5.63 crore for the Visakhapatnam Metro Rail Project. The allocation of meagre amount has left AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu disappointed. But, Jaitley promised that industries of small and medium type would be encouraged in the backward regions of AP.