YS Jagan reviews on Southern Zonal Council meeting arrangements, ask officials to prepare issues to be addressed

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday reviewed the arrangements for the 29th Southern Zonal Council meeting to be held in Tirupati on November 14. Speaking on the occasion, CM YS Jagan directed the authorities to ensure that key issues pertaining to the state are brought up in the Southern Council meeting. The Officials explained to CM Jagan that pending issues related to the AP Bifurcation Act have been included in the agenda.

CM Jagan decided to address the arrears due to the state from Tamil Nadu for the Telugu Ganga project, the Polavaram project, the Rs 6,300 crore electricity arrears, the revenue deficit, the irrational central allocations on rice and the civil supplies arrears from Telangana. It was decided to address the issue of freeze of FD accounts and unresolved issues in the division of assets. It was decided at this preparatory meeting that the issue of special status should also be mentioned in the Southern Zonal Council meeting.

The chief minister said that the issue of the Jurala project under the purview of KRMB should be raised at the Southern Zonal Council meeting. The meeting discussed the Centre's proposals on river connectivity. CM Jagan directed the officials to prepare details on the plans and alternatives suggested by the state as soon as possible for the benefit of the state. The Chief Minister directed the officials to be prepared appropriately if there are issues related to the state among the issues mentioned by other states in the Council meeting.

Andhra Pradesh is hosting the 29th Southern Zonal Council meetings to be chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Chief ministers of AP, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala will attend the meeting. Lieutenant Governors of Pondicherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep will be special guests.

The review meeting was attended by Home Minister Mekathoti Sucharitha, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath, CS Dr Sameer Sharma, DGP Gautam Sawang, Agriculture Special CS Poonam Malakondaiah, Industry Special CS Karikala Valaven Special, Purabhashi Temple Executive Officer Dr KS Jawahar Reddy, Finance Secretary SS Rawat, Medical Health Chief Secretary Muddada Ravichandra, Transport Chief Secretary MT Krishna Babu, Revenue Chief Secretary V Usharani, Home Chief Secretary Kumara Vishwajit, Water Resources Secretary J Shyamala Rao, Energy Secretary Nagula Ex officio Principal Secretary (State Reorganization) L Premachandra Reddy, Forest Environment Secretary G Vijay Kumar, Fisheries Commissioner K Kannababu, Additional DGP (Law and Order) A Ravi Shankar, Intelligence Chief KV Rajendranath Reddy, Chittoor District Collector M Harinarayana was accompanied by other dignitaries.