Jagan will be meeting PM over funds, politics

By Our Special Correspondent

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Reddy will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 10.30 am on Monday. His office here said that Jagan, who left Tadepalli for Delhi on Sunday night, will stay at Janpath residence.

The CM will discuss Polavaram funds and other issues with the Prime Minister. In view of the rapid political changes in the two Telugu states, it is suspected that there is a political agenda behind the sudden visit of the CM to Delhi.

This is the second time that Jagan met Modi in a span of three months. Earlier the meeting was held on June 2. Compensation of revenue deficit from the Centre, Polavaram, NREGS, grant of new medical colleges and other issues will be discussed between the two.

In the last meeting, the CM asked the Prime Minister to release funds of Rs 32,625 crore, including a financial package for restructuring of discoms, senior citizen pensions and loan waiver for farmers, for bills pending under the 10th Pay Commission.

The CM will once again focus on Polavaram funds on Monday. He asked the Center to approve the revised cost estimates of Rs 55,548.87 crore as the Technical Advisory Committee had already approved them.

He asked that the issue of drinking water should be considered as an integral part of the construction of the Polavaram project and the same approach should be followed as in other national projects. He reminded the Center that the state government has not paid Rs.905.51 crore spent on the project.

Jagan asked the Center to provide R&R package to displaced families in DBT mode. His pleas about Polavaram did not bear fruit. That is why the CM once again raised the issue of Polavaram funds.

Due from Telangana Government through Andhra Pradesh Generation Corporation Limited (APGENCO) Rs. 6,627.86 crores will also be reiterated by requesting the Center to direct the concerned authorities to pay the pending fund arrears expeditiously. By doing this, the state electricity department will be financially strengthened.

In the last meeting, the Chief Minister pointed out that the previous TDP government in AP incurred debts beyond the prescribed limit from 2016-17 to 2018-19. However, the YSRCP government is cutting the existing loans.

The loan limit has been reduced by Rs 17,923 crore in the last three years. Now, the CM is likely to reiterate his request to the Center to take a positive decision on loan cuts.

Inadequate coverage of beneficiaries under the NFSA (National Food Security) Act, approval for setting up of 12 new medical colleges in the state to meet the needs of 26 districts, renewal of permits for site clearances for green field international airport at Bhogapuram, iron mining for setting up of integrated steel plant in YSR district for supply of iron ore, among other pending issues. Besides, the CM will discuss in Delhi, the official said.

Meanwhile, political analysts say that the politics in the two Telugu states are changing keeping in mind the AP and Telangana elections to be held in 2024. Telugu Desam is trying to revive the alliance with BJP in AP by giving their support to Kashaya Party in Telangana, which is aiming to oust the KCR government in Telangana.

It is reported that during the meeting with the Prime Minister, CM Jagan is likely to clarify the position of the BJP in AP and based on the results, a political action plan will be prepared.