KCR readying data to confront PM on finances

Hyderabad:  Ahead of his crucial meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is already camping in Delhi since Friday, summoned top officials of the state Finance department to the nation's capital for an emergency meeting on financial issues.

As the Prime Minister is expected to arrive in Delhi on Tuesday after his West Asia tour, the state government has already sought the PMO for an appointment with the PM for the Chief Minister in the next two or three days.  

Officials said state Finance Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao, Telangana Advisor (Finance) GR Reddy and others were asked to rush to Delhi.  After the meeting, KCR will prepare a detailed note on the state finances and requirement of funds for the ongoing flagship programmes like Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhagiratha and allocation of Rs 10,000 crore for the Kaleshwaram project. 

Source said KCR wanted to brief the Prime Minister about the TS government’s efforts in developing the state and the Centre’s assistance required to the completion of the schemes on fast-track.

 KCR would also bring to the notice of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley the necessity of increase of devolution to the state as Telangana registered impressive growth in the tax collections under the single tax regime - GST - which came into force in July last year.  The delay in the release of funds under Centrally-sponsored schemes will also figure in the meeting.   

The Chief Minister is also planning to meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Health Minister Nadda and others.  Officials said KCR will also review the progress in the preparation of the state budget 2018-19 proposals with the state Finance department during his stay in Delhi in the next three or four days. 

When he meets Rajnath Singh, the Chief Minister is expected to raise the issue of delimitation of the Assembly constituencies, which is a political necessity for the ruling parties not only in Telangana but also in Andhra Pradesh.