Telangana scales up efforts for quick nods for projects

​Hyderabad: After Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao wound up his four-day New Delhi visit on Sunday, the State government has intensified all its efforts to get the clearances for projects and financial assistance under various schemes pending before the Centre on war footing. 

During the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Friday, the Chief Minister submitted a memorandum on 10 long-pending State issues to the PM, to which, it is learnt that, Modi responded positively and assured all help.

Officials said that Chief Secretary SK Joshi had been entrusted with pursuing the issues with the Centre. Financial assistance of Rs 20,000 crore for Kaleshwaram, Presidential nod to new zonal system, bifurcation of High Court, release of funds for backward districts and the establishment of IIIT and Navodayas in Telangana were given priority. 

State Secretaries concerned were asked to prepare status report on every issue discussed with the Prime Minister and pursue the matter with their counterparts at the Centre. The Chief Secretary will monitor the status of all files at the Centre and update the same to the Chief Minister from time to time. 

As the 2019 election are fast-approaching, the government is of the view that resolving pending issues, mainly division of High Court, establishment of centrally-sponsored educational institutions and completion of the proposed new railway lines would be a political advantage for TRS. 

Government will also get big relief from financial constraints if the Centre sanctions funds to Kaleshwaram project and disburse Rs 450 crore funds meant for the development of nine backward districts. Source said that the issue of allocation of defence land for the construction of new secretariat at Bison Polo Grounds in Secunderabad will also be pursued with the Defence ministry. 

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary also held a state-level steering committee meeting to seek Rs 595 crore CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) funds from the Centre to increase forest cover at Kaleshwaram project site and other places in the State.