Raise Polavaram issue in parliament; seek Rs 55,657 Cr from Centre: Jagan to MPs

Vijayawada: Ahead of the Parliament session, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy chaired a meeting of his party MPs to discuss the strategy.

Chief Minister directed the MPs to raise the Polavaram project cost escalation issue. He asked MPs to get Rs 55,657 approved from the Centre.

He said that the state government had spent Rs 2104 crore towards the project, which needs to be reimbursed by the Centre. He urged his MPs to raise the issues related to power, irrigation, and water components of the Polavaram project. He said that six main issues that were discussed in the recent Southern Zonal Council meet need to be raised in both houses.

He said besides Polavaram, the MPs should also raise the issue of the National Food Security Act and its irrational selection of beneficiaries. The Chief Minister reminded the MPs that the Centre was yet to pay arrears of Rs 1703 crore to AP Civil Supplies Corporation, apart from Rs 4976.51 crore under the Employment Guarantee scheme.

He said that post bifurcation, Telangana had utilized power from Andhra Pradesh and left dues of Rs 6112 crore. He instructed MPs to get it cleared with interest.

Regarding Resource Gap Funding, the Chief Minister said it was Rs 22,948 crore during the bifurcation, but only Rs 4117.89 crore was given. He asked the MPs to raise the issue and get it resolved. According to the CAG report, the gap is about Rs 16,078.76 crore. If arrears of employees PF are added it would be Rs 22,948.76 crore. He told MPs to take up the issue of placing a cut on the current loans, in the name of over borrowings which were taken by the previous government.

He appealed to the MPs to speak on recent flood damage in the state and seek Rs 1000 crore as immediate relief. He asked them to raise the BC Census, Privatization of Visakha Steel Plant, and Disha Bill. He urged MPs to ask the Centre to provide financial assistance in building basic infrastructure in Jagananna Colonies.

Jagan told them to extend support to the farmers' demand on the MSP Bill. The Chief Minister urged MPs to work collectively for the state.