CM KCR meet PM Modi in New Delhi

Financial assistance from the Central government for State projects, pending railway and infrastructure projects, issues pertaining to reservations and establishment of various Central institutions in the State were the major issues that were discussed during the meeting of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday evening. This was the first meeting between the two after Modi assumed charge as Prime Minister for a second term.

The Chief Minister submitted several memorandums seeking the Prime Minister’s approval on as many as 23 issues during the meeting that last more than an hour. He reiterated the State’s request for financial assistance of about Rs 24,205 crore for Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhagiratha as recommended by NITI Aayog (Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 19,205 crore respectively). He also sought release of Rs 450 crore towards fifth instalment of financial assistance to backward districts in the State as provided under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

Chandrashekhar Rao submitted another representation seeking defence lands in exchange for State government lands for construction of a new integrated Secretariat complex and widening of highways in Secunderabad Cantonment area. 

He also sought speedy implementation of pending railway projects in the State and sanction of required funds for their completion. He wanted the Centre to enhance the number of judges in Telangana High Court from 24 to 42 for speedy disposal of pending cases.

Under Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the Chief Minister sought allotment of funds for upgrading of 4,000 km of roads for better connectivity in backward regions of Telangana State. Instead of the 60:40 ratio of expenditure sharing between the Centre and the State governments respectively, he asked the Union government to bear the entire cost for road works in Left Wing Extremism affected areas. He urged the Centre to take up development of the proposed Hyderabad–Nagpur and Warangal-Hyderabad



Industrial Corridors.

The Chief Minister took up the issue of revival of Cement Corporation of India in Adilabad district with the help of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). He reminded the Prime Minister that the Centre had assured to establish a steel plant at Bayyaram in Khammam district under the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act. Other issues that came up for discussion included establishment of Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), National Institute of Design (NID) in Hyderabad, and IIIT in Karimnagar under public-private partnership model, besides full Central funding for the Tribal University to be established at Warangal as per AP Reorganisation Act. The Chief Minister also requested for sanction of 23 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNV) in the new districts.

Chandrashekhar Rao urged the Prime Minister to act on the Telangana Assembly’s resolution supporting 33 per cent reservation for OBCs and women in Parliament and State Legislatures. He also requested the Union government’s approval for implementation of sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes in the State as well as enhanced reservations for Backward Classes (37 per cent), Scheduled Castes (15 per cent) and Scheduled Tribes (10 per cent) in employment and education on the basis of their population.

The Chief Minister requested the Centre to release funds for National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) at Zaheerabad in Medak district. He sought a one-time Grant-in-Aid of Rs 1,000 crore for the upcoming Kakatiya Mega Textile Park at Warangal. Besides seeking declaration of Ramappa temple as world heritage site, he asked the sanction of revised cost for Flood Flow Canal.

Chandrashekhar Rao also called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his Delhi visit, to take up the State’s issues and submitted representations. He returned to Hyderabad on Friday evening.