The chief minister and the deputy chief minister met the prime minister for the first time after taking over the reins of the state earlier this month.
Published Dec 27, 2023 | 12:49 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 27, 2023 | 12:49 AM
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka speak to reporters after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, 26 December, 2023. (Supplied)
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Tuesday, 26 December, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accord national-project status to the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS).
The chief minister and the deputy chief minister met the prime minister for the first time after taking over the reins of the state earlier this month.
The PRLIS is an irrigation project that aims to irrigate 12.3 lakh acres of land in the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district.
The project is being constructed on the Krishna river at an estimated cost is ₹35,000 crore.
The first phase of the PRLIS was operationalised by former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao on 16 September at the Yellur-Narlapur pump house in the Nagarkurnool district.
Chief Minister Sri @Revanth_Anumula along with Deputy CM Sri @BhattiCLP met Hon'ble Prime Minister Sri @Narendramodi ji in New Delhi today. pic.twitter.com/8KYKdpD93M
— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) December 26, 2023
Vikramarka told reporters at Telangana Bhavan after meeting the prime minister at his residence in Delhi that they had sought national-project status for PRLIS per the provision in the AP State Reorganisation Act of 2014.
The deputy chief minister, with Revanth Reddy by his side, said that their meeting with the prime minister was more like ice-breaking and establishing a working relationship with the Centre without confrontation on each and every issue.
“Our meeting with the prime minister was in the spirit of cooperative federalism,” the Telangana deputy chief minister said.
He said they brought up the promises made to Telangana in the reorganisation law and sought measures for their implementation.
He said the previous BRS government could not get what was due for the state from the Centre, and hence the delay.
The deputy chief minister said that they had brought to the notice of the prime minister how the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) was pending for a long time, besides asking for an IIM and a Sainik School for Telangana.
The delegation also requested the prime minister to ensure the location of a railway coach factory in Kazipet and a steel factory in Bayyaram.
తెలంగాణలో కొత్త ప్రభుత్వం కొలువుదీరిన తర్వాత ముఖ్యమంత్రి, ఉప ముఖ్యమంత్రి తొలిసారిగా ఢిల్లీలో ప్రధానమంత్రి శ్రీ నరేంద్ర మోదీని ఆయన నివాసంలో ఈరోజు మర్యాదపూర్వకంగా కలిశారు. ఈ సందర్భంగా రాష్ట్రానికి సంబంధించిన పలు సమస్యలను వారు ప్రధానమంత్రి దృష్టికి తీసుకెళ్లారు.…
— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) December 26, 2023
He said that they had explained to the prime minister that the purpose of the Telangana movement was for a fair share of river waters, jobs for the teeming youths, and adequate funds for the sustenance of the state’s economy.
At the time of the division of the state, several promises were made in the reorganisation act, many of which were unfulfilled even now, said Vikramarka.
He said they also requested the prime minister to approve 14 proposals related to the National Highways Authority, adding that they had also reminded him that the funds promised under the development of backward areas — about ₹1,800 crore — had been kept on hold since 2019-20.
They also sought steps for the release of the ₹2,233.54 crore sanctioned by the 15th Finance Commission, he said.
The other demands presented before the prime minister included the commencement of classes from the 2023-24 academic year for the tribal university for which the Centre had given clearance, and declaring the Kakatiya Mega Textile park in Warangal greenfield for release of adequate funds. It is at present a brownfield textile park.
The two dignitaries also sought early release of the statutory funds that are due to the state as they were now being released in fits and starts.
According to the deputy chief minister, the prime minister told them that the Centre would do whatever it could to help the state.
