Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao to seek Central aid for water projects

Hyderabad: The Telangana government will seek Central incentives for its new industrial policy and aid for mega projects like the Telangana Water Grid, Mission Kakatiya, irrigation projects and others.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 4, has planned to seek 50 per cent of the cost of the Telangana water grid and Mission Kakatiya, which cost about Rs 25,000 crore each.

The state will also request the Centre to declare the Pranahita Chevella irrigation project as a national project.

Since drinking water is the top priority of the BJP-led NDA government and the state, the Chief Minister has planned to seek substantial aid from the Centre’s rural and urban water supply schemes.

While Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is already in the national capital to seek Central help despite the Centre’s cold response, Mr Rao will go to New Delhi on April 3.

The Centre has already informed AP that it cannot offset the revenue shortfall when the government is continuing with freebies like free power and farm loan waiver.

But the Telangana government, which declared itself a revenue surplus state, is seeking aid from Central schemes.

The CM will also call on the CJI to speed up the bifurcation of the Hyderabad High Court. Due to a miscommunication between the Union Law Ministry and the government the issue created some confusion.

As per the AP Reorganisation Act the existing High Court building will go to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has to set up its own High Court. Till then it can continue to function from Hyderabad.

Sources said the Telangana government would offer another building for the AP High Court in Hyderabad till the AP government decides on the location of the High Court in its territory.