Centre keen to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh, says Nirmala Sitharaman

The Centre is keen to accord the special category status to residuary Andhra Pradesh and is taking necessary steps in this regard, Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman said here today. "We are taking all necessary steps to accord the special (category) status to Andhra Pradesh. Central government is keen on this issue and is taking measures to clear various long-pending issues in Andhra," Sitharaman told reporters at the office of Bhimavaram Rajya Sabha MP Seetharamalakshmi.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu had been demanding the special category status to the truncated state since Telangana was carved out. Sitharaman also appealed to MPs to adopt villages under the 'Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Due to several reasons, some villages in the country remained backward and there is no development there," she said.

She said that the coastal area in West Godavari district has been severely affected due to natural calamities or other reasons. "We are studying the matter in detail and will soon come with a permanent solution to this issue," she added.

The minister said steps are also bring taken to increase the rice levy percentage.

Sitharaman has adopted Pedamainavani Lanka and Thruputalla villages in West Godavari district under the Central scheme.