AP Cabinet greenlights borrowing Rs 27,000 crore for Amaravati Development

Cancellation and re-tendering of Jal Jeevan Mission works
•    Mid-day meals to be rolled out in 475 govt junior colleges

 The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, approved a slew of major decisions on Thursday, including cancellation and re-tendering of Jal Jeevan Mission works, taking loans totaling Rs 27,000 crore for Amaravati development, and the implementation of mid-day meals in 475 government junior colleges.

The Cabinet, which met with 21 agenda items, approved the administrative clearance of Rs 8,821 crore for 20 engineering works and a proposal of Rs 24,316 crore for 25 additional projects in Amaravati. The decision to re-tender modified Jal Jeevan Mission works was accompanied by an extension of the agreement period for five such projects.

To bolster Amaravati’s development, the Cabinet greenlit borrowing Rs 11,000 crore from HUDCO and Rs 16,000 crore from KFW. Additionally, the transfer of 176 sanctioned cadre strength to 12 newly formed Nagar Panchayats was approved to enhance municipal governance.

The Cabinet cleared multiple other proposals, including, creation of 14 posts for the Andhra Pradesh Real Estate Appellate Tribunal, allocation of 50 acres in Kurnool for a center under Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University, stamp duty exemptions and Rs 1,000 crore loan for grain procurement under AP Markfed, new tenders for the Polavaram left main canal works following contract expiration and approval of a joint venture between NTPC and NREDCAP for renewable energy initiatives.

The Cabinet granted administrative approval of Rs 32.46 crore for the distribution of textbooks, competitive exam material, notebooks, and practical records under the Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyarthi Mitra scheme for government and residential college students.
Starting December 2024, mid-day meals will be introduced in 475 government junior colleges, a significant welfare measure to benefit thousands of students.