Terming the Centre’s announcement of a special package of Rs 7,266 crore for Bundelkhand as a “delayed decision”, the Uttar Pradesh government has said it will not benefit the local people.

“The government is of the view that the Centre should sanction funds as per proposals submitted by the state. The special package is insufficient and a delayed decision,” a government spokesman said.

The spokesman added that Chief Minister Mayawati, soon after taking charge in 2007, had requested the Centre to approve Rs 7,016 as drought relief package for the UP region. The UPA government, on Thursday, however, announced a special package of Rs 7,266 crore for the development of the drought-hit region to be shared between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

“Announcing merely Rs 4,000 crore for Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh is unfortunate. It indicates that the proposals submitted by the state for integrated development of the region have been overlooked,” the spokesman alleged.

Despite having limited resources, the state has initiated a host of development projects in the area and sanctioned money to establish an agriculture university, nine ITIs, five polytechnics and a para-medical college in the area, he added.

Cong raps Maya
The state Congress lashed out at the Mayawati government on Friday for terming the Rs 7,266-crore Bundelkhand package as insufficient and asked it to shelve its projects on parks and statue and provide a matching grant for the backward Purvanchal area of the state. “The situation in the Purvanchal region is similar to that of Bundelkhand and it also requires a special package,” Pramod Tewari told mediapersons.