PM Modi explains benefits of farm laws to KCR

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for over 30 minutes on Saturday. This meeting assumes importance on two counts. One because it took place on the eve of the Chief Minister completing two years in office during his second term and secondly because of the political stand the TRS had taken against the BJP during the Dubbaka bypoll, and GHMC elections and the recent bandh call it had given opposing the three farm laws.

During his meeting with the Prime Minister, it is learnt that the issue of ongoing farmers' agitation had figured and the Prime Minister quickly explained the advantages of the new laws and how it would benefit the farmers. KCR on his part is said to have expressed his concerns and objections to certain issues, including the MSP. It is said that there was some reference to the recent election results of Dubbaka and GHMC.

The Chief Minister is also learnt to have briefed the Prime Minister about the funds that were due to the State. He is said to have urged him to see that funds were released at the earliest.

Earlier, the Chief Minister met Union Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri and submitted a memorandum to set up domestic airports at six places in Telangana state. The state government proposed in 2014 to have domestic airports at Basantnagar in Peddapalli district, Mamnoor in Warangal urban district, Adilabad, Jakranpally in Nizamabad district, Devarkadra in Mahbubnagar district and Bhadradri-Kothagudem district.

KCR brought to the notice of the Union Minister that based on discussions with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), a formal proposal was already sent to the AAI in 2018 to prepare a feasibility report.

He said that the AAI had done Obstacle Limitation Surface Survey, soil testing and other investigations at the sites.

Once the statutory clearances were given, the State government would commence the infrastructure work at the earliest for starting the non-scheduled operator's permit (NSOP) operations with its own funds, he said.