Polavaram project to Discom arrears: Jagan meets PM Modi, submits wish list

New Delhi: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and disçussed several key issues related to the state including the Polavaram project, Kadapa Steel Plant, rationality in coverage of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, arrears from Telangana Discoms among others.

During the interaction, the Chief Minister requested the Prime Minister to approve the revised cost estimates of Rs 55,548.87 crore as per Technical Advisory Committee recommendations on 11 February 2019.

As per the data, Rs 31,118 crore needs to be spent on the project. This includes Rs 8,590 crore for construction and Rs 22,598 crore for rehabilitation. The CM requested the Prime Minister to clear the bills in toto. He also urged him to directly transfer the R&R package amount into the accounts of beneficiaries without any delay.

The Chief Minister said there is inadequate coverage of beneficiaries under the NFSA (National Food Security) Act, and a large number of needy and deserving persons have not been covered. He said while the state government is providing ration to 1.45 crore families, only 0.89 crore families are receiving ration from the Central government. He said the state government is providing ration to the remaining 0.56 crore families. He requested the Prime Minister to direct the concerned officials to revise the data.

The Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to renew the site clearance for the greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram. On Integrated Steel Plant in YSR district, he said MECON, a government of India undertaking has not yet concluded its feasibility report. He said the state government has incorporated 'YSR Steel Corporation Ltd' and sought the Centre's support.

The Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to give approvals to allot beach sand minerals to Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation in sixteen places. He also urged Modi to approve setting up another 12 teaching hospitals in the state.

He said the state government has spent Rs 32,625.25 crore in the form of pending bills during bifurcation and as a part of the implementation of X Wage Commission recommendations. He urged the Prime Minister to fill the revenue gap.

The Chief Minister said the state government has lost revenue due to bifurcation and the Covid pandemic. He urged the Prime Minister to relax the credit limit of the state. The Chief Minister said an amount of Rs. 6,455.76 crore is receivable by Andhra Pradesh Generation Corporation Limited (APGENCO) from the Telangana State Distribution Utilities and Telangana DISCOMs. He requested the Prime Minister to direct the concerned authorities to settle these dues at the earliest so that the State power sector will be financially strengthened.

Later, the Chief Minister has called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and discussed issues related to the state.