KTR, Nirmala trade barbs on funds to TS

Telangana gives double of what Centre returns: KTR tells finance minister

IT and municipal administration minister K.T. Rama Rao is leading a counterattack on Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her statements over and allocations to Telangana in her recent Union Budget, saying that the people of Telangana have given more than double to the Centre than what it gave to the state.

Giving year-wise funds allocated by the Centre to Telangana in contradistinction to funds collected by the Centre from Telangana, the TRS working president said that the state has given `2,72,926 (2.73 lakh) crore to Centre though taxes, whereas, the centre had given only

`1,12,854 (1.13 lakh) crore to the state. He pointed out that difference was

`1,60,072 (1.60 lakh) crore. In a tweet, the state minister said that the nation needed to know what Telangana gives to the Centre and what it gets in return. In a tweet, Mr Rao said, “Pained by the condescension in the statement of FM in Parliament that Centre has ‘Given’ TS funds. People of Telangana & the nation need to know what Telangana ‘Gives’ to Government of India in the form of taxes & what we get in return- Hope the irony is not lost on you FM ji (sic)”.

The differences between the Telangana state and Centre at a government level, and between the ruling TRS and BJP parties at a political level, over funds released by the centre to state have been persistent and continued for years.

The TRS and Telangana’s argument has been that the Centre gave to Telangana on par with other states as per Constitutional obligations and no additional funds were ever allocated to the state.

PAINED BY the condescension in the statement of FM in Parliament that the Centre has ‘Given’ Telangana funds. People need to know what Telangana ‘Gives’ to Centre in ... taxes & what we get in return... K.T. RAMA RAO, Telangana IT minister THE UNION government had released tax devolution funds to the tune of `85,013 crore to Telangana in six years, including `13,009.40 crore (up to February 5, 2019-20) to Telangana. — NIRMALA SITHARAMAN,

Union finance minister

IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao on Wednesday said many global companies were keen on making major investments in the State.

He was speaking at a review meeting with heads of Information Technology and Industries departments at MCRHRD here.

Officials told Mr Rama Rao that Hatsun Agro Product Ltd would be setting up India’s largest icecream manufacturing facility in Sangareddy district. It is expected to commence commercial operations in October.

Hatsun will be setting up its unit with a capital investment of `207 crore and create more than 250 direct and 250 indirect employment opportunities.

The unit will also benefit more than 4,000 dairy farmers in the region, said a statement from the Ministry.

Mr Rama Rao said that many major food processing companies were keen on investing in Telangana and announcements would be made soon.

He said the government would provide assistance to such companies as well.

The Minister also asked officials to plan towards decentralising the IT sector to ensure its growth across the city.

He said efforts to boost IT sector in tier-2 cities were yielding good results.

He is likely to inaugurate the Karimnagar IT Tower on February 18.