With a long wishlist for his state, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu spent two days in the nation’s capital meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah as well as several Cabinet ministers.
After securing a strong victory in the recent assembly elections and becoming the second-largest NDA constituent in the Lok Sabha, this marks the first instance where Naidu will meet Union ministers to discuss issues concerning his state.
The meeting centred on critical topics such as financial aid and infrastructure development, according to an official statement. Chief among Naidu’s priorities was the Polavaram Project, a significant national irrigation initiative essential for Andhra Pradesh’s agricultural sector, as he pushed for expedited support in commissioning this crucial project.
Naidu also pressed for “additional allocation” under the scheme designed to provide special assistance to states for capital investments in critical sectors like roads, bridges, irrigation, and drinking water projects. He also advocated for support for the economically backward regions of Andhra Pradesh similar to the Bundelkhand package.
Naidu also met Union Minister for Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Roads Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission Arvind Panagariya.
On the state’s fiscal situation, the Chief Minister said, “Andhra Pradesh continues to grapple with the repercussions of the unscientific, unfair, and unjust bifurcation of 2014.” Naidu also requested short-term financial handholding from the Centre, citing “indiscriminate borrowing” and “large scale diversion of monies” by the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP government as reasons for the current resource scarcity.
Chandrababu Naidu’s Wishlist: Here’s what he has sought
From Amit Shah
-Requested Rs 385 crore for land acquisition to establish a Greyhounds training centre for the anti-Maoist force.
-Sought Rs 27.54 crore for operational costs.
-Advocated for increasing IPS officers from 79 to 117.
From Nitin Gadkari
-Urged for the implementation of several road projects, including a new expressway connecting Hyderabad and Amaravati.
From Piyush Goyal
-Appealed for grants to develop essential external infrastructure such as industrial water supply, power, and rail and road connectivity.
From Shivraj Singh Chouhan
-Pitched for support to establish an integrated aquapark.
-Requested the release of central funds pending for agriculture assistance under various schemes.
From Manohar Lal Khattar
-Urged to expedite the approval process for a power transmission line from Kurnool to Vizag.
-Proposed plans to transform Vizag-Kakinada into a green hydrogen manufacturing hub.
Speaking to Hardeep Singh Puri, Naidu highlighted the need to accelerate infrastructure development to make Vizag-Kakinada a hub for green hydrogen production.
Naidu meets Sitharaman with wishlist
On Friday, the TDP chief met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, pressing for enhanced financial support to the debt-burdened state. His meeting with Sitharaman assumes significance as she is going to present the Budget 2024-25 on July 23 in the Lok Sabha.
According to data from the Andhra Pradesh state government, the public debt as a percentage of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has risen from 31.02% in the fiscal year 2019-20 to 33.32% in the fiscal year 2023-24. This increase points to a deterioration in the fiscal health of the state over the past five years.
His key demands included funding for the Polavaram irrigation project, aid for underdeveloped regions, and assistance for the advancement of Amaravati, the new capital.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Health Minister J P Nadda.