The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, today called on the Union Minister for Water Resources, Mr Salman Kursheed, in Delhi seeking the Centre's support on Pranahita-Chevella, Polavaram and other irrigation projects.
The Chief Minister also called on the Union Health Minister, Mr Gulam Nabi Azad, and requested him to take up the Rajiv Aarogyasri health scheme as national scheme.
During his Delhi visit, the Chief Minister met the UPA chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi.
Mr Reddy made out a case to declare Indirasagar Polavaram project as a national project. A proposal had been submitted to the Ministry of Water Resources through the Central Water Commission for according the status of national project. The project envisages utilising 301 tmc of water to irrigate 7.21 lakh acres in Andhra Pradesh.
This multipurpose project had been accorded all the necessary clearances. The State Government has invested Rs. 3,557 crore on the project as of October 2010. Declaring it as a national project, the Andhra Pradesh Government will be able to get 90 per cent of the eligible project cost. This would help timely completion of this ambitious project.
As advised by the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) of the Ministry of Finance, the project cost has been re-cast at 2010-11 rates and the revised project has been approved by the Ministry of Water Resources at Rs. 16,010 crore. Accordingly, the State Government has requested the Planning Commission to accord revised investment clearance for the cost as approved by the Ministry of Water Resources.
During his interaction, the Chief Minister raised other issues including a proposal to consider Dr B.R. Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella Sujala Sravanthi Project for inclusion in the list of national projects. This has already been included under the Prime Minister's package. It covers seven drought prone and backward districts of the Telangana region.
The Government also sought assistance for the Krishna delta modernisation project and the Dr K.L. Rao Sagar Pulichintala Project.