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Salaries and allowances of chief minister and ministers in Andhra Pradesh have been enhanced significantly with the state assembly on Tuesday approving an amendment to the relevant act.
The state will have to spend Rs 25 crore per annum from the 2012-13 fiscal to meet the enhanced salary bill of the chief minister and ministers, including their TA and DA.
The amendment to the Andhra Pradesh Payment of Salaries and Pension and Removal of Disqualification Act, 1953, that was moved in the assembly on March 16 was passed by voice vote on Tuesday even as the entire opposition was not present in the House.
Under the amended legislation, the basic pay of chief minister has been enhanced from Rs 5,250 to Rs 16,000 a month and that of ministers (including deputy chief minister) from Rs 5,000 to Rs 14,000.
The special allowance has been hiked to Rs 8,000, sumptuary allowance to Rs 7,000, Camp Office allowance to Rs 10,000, security car allowance to Rs 25,000, own car allowance to Rs 30,000 and house rent allowance to Rs 50,000.
Besides, a constituency allowance of Rs 83,000 will be given to the chief minister, ministers and others (like chief whips).
The hike will also be applicable to chairman and deputy chairman of the legislative council and speaker and deputy speaker of the assembly.
Salaries and allowances of these dignitaries were last enhanced in the year 2000.
It was decided to enhance the salary and allowances of the chief minister and others based on information received from state governments like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra on the pay structures there, according to the government.
Meanwhile, The Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Land (conversion for non-agricultural purposes) Amendment Bill 2012, The AP Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2012 and The AP (Andhra Area) Inam (Abolition and conversion into Ryotwari) (Amendment) Bill, 2012 were also passed by the assembly during the evening session on Tuesday.