Andhra Pradesh CM meets PM Modi

New Delhi [India], January 3 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter's residence and discussed several key issues related to the state.
During the interaction, the Chief Minister requested the Prime Minister to approve the revised cost estimates of Rs. 55,657 crores at 2017-18 price level, which includes drinking water component of Rs. 4,000 crores and also to release the pending payments of Rs. 2,100 crores already incurred by the State Government towards the Polavaram project.
The Chief Minister said, "The total revenue deficit for 2014-15 financial year Rs. 22,948.76 crores and the amount released to the state was only Rs. 4,117.89 crores and requested that the remaining portion of Rs. 18,830.87 crores are released at the earliest, to support the state during this hour of need."
The Chief Minister said that an amount of Rs. 6,284 crores are receivable by Andhra Pradesh Generation Corporation Limited (APGENCO) from the Telangana State Distribution Utilities and Telangana DISCOMs have recognized the amount as payables but are yet to make the actual payment.
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 and the state's payables to power suppliers can also be discharged.
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 are being uncovered and requested the Prime Minister to direct the concerned officials that the State's data be revisited and corrected.
He also urged that a comprehensive view be taken on the poverty levels in the State, wider coverage of the population of Andhra Pradesh under TPDS be ensured and the anomaly is corrected.
The Chief Minister said the NBC (net borrowing ceiling) for the financial year 2021-22 was originally fixed at Rs. 42,472 crores as per the FRBM norms fixed by the Central Government and made applicable to every State.
The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India has subsequently informed that an amount of Rs. 17,923.24 crores are to be adjusted against the NBC fixed for this year on account of the so-called overborrowing of the State during earlier years of the previous Government in the State.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the so-called over-drawl was only borrowing and not a grant and the borrowing is also being serviced without any default. He has requested the Prime Minister that the State's NBC be restored to its original level of Rs. 42,472 crore.
The Chief Minister has urged the Prime Minister to renewal the approvals of site clearances for greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram. In regard to setting up an Integrated Steel Plant in YSR Kadapa District, he said MECON, a Government of India undertaking has not yet concluded its report as to the feasibility of the integrated steel plant and urged the Prime Minister to direct the concerned officials to expedite it.
He said the state government has incorporated 'YSR Steel Corporation Ltd' for establishing the steel plant in the YSR Kadapa district.
For securing iron ore mineral for the proposed steel plant, requests have been made to the Ministry of Mines to reserve iron ore mineral areas in favor of a Government of Andhra Pradesh undertaking, AP Mineral Development Corporation Ltd.
Such reservation is permitted by the extant legal framework. However, the Ministry of Mines, Government has suggested the auction route for securing the supply of minerals. Auction route would minimize the possibility of availability of low-cost mineral, threatening the feasibility of the project, he said and urged the Prime Minister to direct Mines Ministry to reserve mineral areas as it is of vital importance for the future of the project.
Later, the Chief Minister has called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and discussed the issues related to the state.