Modi invites KCR to talk drought, will review Central assistance to Telangana

Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for a meeting on drought conditions prevailing in the state. Mr Rao will leave for Delhi on Monday evening and meet Mr Modi on May 10.

Official sources said the meeting was arranged by the Prime Minister, who has decided to meet the Chief Ministers of states affected by drought. He had met Chief Ministers Akhilesh Yadav, Siddharamaiah and Devendra Fadna-vis in New Delhi on Saturday. All of them had sought thousands of crores of rupees for drought relief in their states.

Read: Drought in Telangana tops KCR’s priorities

Sources said the meeting would review Central assistance to the state and the measures taken by the state government to mitigate the effects of drought.

Read: Telangana gets Rs 55 crore from Centre towards drought relief

Sources close to the CM told this newspaper that apart from the review of the drought conditions prevailing in the state, Mr Rao will raise other issues pending with Centre.

Read: Telangana optimistic of turning drought-free, says minister

With regard to the Prime Minister’s proposed maiden visit to the state to inaugurate the revived fertiliser factory at Ramagundam in Karimnagar district on May 26, official sources said it was not yet to be confirmed. Sources said there may be some clarity on the visit after Mr Rao’s meeting with Mr Modi.