CM Jagan Reddy Meets PM Modi, Discusses Andhra Pradesh-related Issues

The Chief Minister said there is inadequate coverage of beneficiaries under NFSA (National Food Security) Act, and a large number of needy and deserving persons being uncovered and requested the Prime Minister to direct the concerned officials that State’s data be revisited and corrected. He also urged that a comprehensive view be taken on the poverty levels in the State, wider coverage of the population of Andhra Pradesh under TPDS be ensured and the anomaly is corrected.

The Chief Minister said the NBC (net borrowing ceiling) for the financial year 2021-22 was originally fixed at Rs 42,472 crore as per the FRBM norms fixed by the Central Government and made applicable to every State. The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India has subsequently informed that an amount of Rs 17,923.24 crore is to be adjusted against the NBC fixed for this year on account of the over borrowing of the State during earlier years of the previous Government in the State.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the over-drawn was only borrowing and not a grant and the borrowing is also being serviced without any default. He has requested the Prime Minister that the State’s NBC be restored to its original level of Rs 42,472 crore according to the reports published in news18.com.

The Chief Minister has urged PM Modi to renew the approvals of site clearances for greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram. Regarding setting up an Integrated Steel Plant in YSR Kadapa District, he said MECON, a Government of India undertaking has not yet concluded its report as to the feasibility of the integrated steel plant and urged the Prime Minister to direct the concerned officials to expedite it.

He said the state government has incorporated ‘YSR Steel Corporation Ltd’ for establishing the steel plant in YSR Kadapa district. For securing iron ore mineral for the proposed steel plant, requests have been made to the Ministry of Mines to reserve iron ore mineral areas in favour of a Government of Andhra Pradesh undertaking, AP Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. Such reservation is permitted by the extant legal framework.

However, the Ministry of Mines, Government has suggested the auction route for securing the supply of minerals. Auction route would minimize the possibility of availability of low-cost mineral, threatening the feasibility of the project, he said and urged the Prime Minister to direct Mines Ministry to reserve mineral areas as it is of vital importance for the future of the project.

Later, Jagan Reddy called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and discussed the issues related to the state.