AP to get Rs 13-crore ASIDE grant

The state is expected to get around Rs 13 crore grant from the central government under the ASIDE(Assistance to States for Infrastructure Development Export) scheme this year for infrastructure development like roads, water, power lines for industrial and business enterprises.

Under this new scheme, launched in March 2002, the state received Rs 12 crore in the first year itself.

According to the guidelines, grants under the ASIDE scheme have to be spent by the state governments on the infrastructure of the projects which are linked to exports.

The state-level export promotion committee headed by the chief secretary will decide on the projects to be funded under the scheme.

APIIC is acting as the nodal agency for the ASIDE. Official sources told Business Standard that the central government had already released Rs 6 crore to APIIC for the current year. Another Rs 7 crore is expected to come by January-end, 2004.