YS Jagan meets Modi; seeks special status to AP, release of Polavaram dues

NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and discussed various issues pertaining to the state including the pending funds from the Centre and granting of special status.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the latter’s chambers in Parliament House on Friday.

Below are the highlights of the issues that YS Jagan raised during his meeting with Modi:

1. It has been nine years since the state was bifurcated. Many bilateral issues related to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana remain unresolved. I request you to pay immediate attention to these.

2. A committee headed by the Central Finance Secretary was constituted on the issues mentioned in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. The committee has already held several rounds of discussions and made some progress. I bring to your notice that all the important points are still pending.

3. Rs 36,625 crore is pending under resource gap funding for the financial year 2014-15. The Centre said, as a witness in Parliament, that it would fund the resource gap. I request you to release these funds immediately and give appropriate instructions to the departments concerned.

4. State borrowing limits are now restricted because the previous government in the state used borrowing beyond the limit. Although this government is not at fault, they have also reduced the loan limit given as per the norms. A debt ceiling of Rs 42,472 crore was provided in 2021-22 and reduced by Rs 17,923 crore in the subsequent period. The Centre took this decision during the economic slump induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. I request you to intervene in this matter and take a positive decision.

5. The state government is moving forward with great determination over the Polavaram project. The construction of the project is going on to fulfill the long-standing wish of the people of Andhra Pradesh. This project will become a reality within a short time if the Union Government provides adequate support. The State government has spent Rs 2,600.74 crore from its treasury for the construction of the Polavaram project. These have been pending for the last two years. I request that appropriate directions be given for immediate payment of these dues.

6. The Polavaram project cost, as estimated by the Technical Advisory Committee, is Rs 55,548 crores. It is requested to approve this immediately.

7. I appeal to consider drinking water supply as a part of the Polavaram project and to relax component-wise rules in the construction of the project.

8. I appeal that the Polavaram project flood victims be compensated as soon as possible. I would like to bring to your notice that as the delay increases, the cost of the project too goes up. Delays can be avoided if this assistance is provided to flood victims in a DBT manner.

9. I would like to request an ad hoc sanction of Rs 10,000 crores to advance the construction of the Polavaram project more rapidly.

10. Dues from Telangana DISCOMS to AP Genco have not been cleared. Rs.7,058 crore is due for electricity supplied from June 2014 to June 2017. I request that they be given immediately.

11. Lack of rationality in the selection of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act is causing grave injustice to the State. Due to this, the State government is giving ration to 56 lakh families who are not covered under the PMGKY programme. It has to bear the burden of around Rs.5,527 crores. In this regard, NITI Aayog has also ruled that Andhra Pradesh's plea is correct and plans to take appropriate action. I request that the Centre allocate the unutilized ration quota to the state.

12. The Centre has promised special status at the time of the bifurcation of the state. This results in grants and tax concessions to the state. Financially, the state government will benefit. Apart from large-scale industries, the service sector will also expand. It helps the state to move towards self-reliance. I appeal that the state be granted special status.

13. We made 13 districts into 26 districts in the state. A district has a population of approximately 18 lakhs. Including the three newly sanctioned medical colleges, there are only 14 in total. I request permission for the granting of the remaining 12 colleges as soon as possible. The work related to these colleges is progressing very fast. I request the Centre to provide appropriate assistance in this regard.

14. The Union Government has promised to set up a steel plant in the YSR Kadapa district as part of the promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act. I appeal to you for the allocation of mines to APMDC to preempt shortage of minerals to sustain this plant.