CM Jagan meets Modi, seeks release of pending funds to Andhra
Discusses on Polavaram; Asks Centre to get Rs6,756-cr power dues from Telangana
image for illustrative purpose
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought his intervention to expedite approval of revised estimates for Polavaram multi-purpose project and other pending issues.
In another significant development, the Chief Minister called on Union Power Minister RK Singh to get Rs.6,756 crore worth of dues outstanding from Telangana power utilities to APGENCO released at the earliest. "We will pursue the matter," Singh said after the meeting.
The Chief Minister during his Delhi trip, also called on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar.
During the meeting at the Prime Minister residence, Reddy raised several key issues related to the State including Polavaram project, compensating resource gap funds, rationality in coverage of beneficiaries under National Food Security Act, arrears from Telangana Discoms to the State and Special Category Status among others and submitted letters to this effect.
According to the Chief Minister's Office, during the interaction, the Chief Minister requested the Prime Minister to help in completing the construction of the Polavaram project at the earliest and urged him to approve the revised cost estimates of Rs 55,548.87 crore as the Technical Advisory Committee had already approved it on February 11, 2019.
He also asked him to reimburse Rs 2900 crore which was spent by the State Government towards the Polavaram Project and requested the Prime Minister to clear the bills in total fortnightly like in other National projects and not component-wise. He also sought Rs 10,000 crore on an ad hoc basis so that the construction works of the project can proceed smoothly.
The Chief Minister appealed to provide an R&R package to the displaced families in a DBT manner to ensure transparency. He asked the Prime Minister to release funds of Rs 32,625 crore under Resource Gap Fund for various pending bills under 10th Pay Commission, including social security pensions and others during the period 2014-15.
Reddy explained to the Prime Minister that due to the lack of rationalisation in the selection of eligible persons under the National Food Security Act, the State is suffering serious losses and has already brought this matter to his attention, where a large number of needy and deserving persons were uncovered. He said that the State Government is providing a ration to 2.68 crore beneficiaries, of which 61 per cent belong to rural areas and 41 per cent are from urban areas.
