Telangana Finance Minister Eetela Rajender has requested Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to extend financial assistance to the flagship programmes of the newly-formed State such as restoration of minor irrigation tanks, drinking water grid and others.
He further urged the Centre to release all funds due to Telangana before the completion of the current financial year. Speaking at the pre-budget meeting of States’ and Union Territories’ Finance Ministers meeting organised by the Ministry of Finance in Delhi on Friday, he said about Rs. 5,000 crore funds were due to Telangana from the Centre on the date of its formation on June 2 this year. Besides, release of other funds by the Centre to the State was also due.
Placing Telangana’s charter of demands before the Union Finance Minister, Mr. Rajender sought allocation of funds for higher educational institutions promised to Telangana in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act in the current budget itself. He requested Mr. Jaitley to enhance the quota of rice to Telangana since the State Government was launching the supply of fine quality rice to welfare hostels run by it.
Highlighting the importance of restoration of minor irrigation tanks in Telangana, which was predominantly dependent on such sources for irrigation in the past, Mr. Rajender requested the Centre to become a partner in the programme and give an assistance of Rs. 25,000 crore over the next five years to revive the tanks’ system.
Speaking to reporters later, the Telangana Minister said he had urged the Union Minister to be generous in extending financial assistance to the newly-formed State, keeping in view its needs. Further, he had requested excise duty exemption of Rs. 5,000 crore as part of special category State status to Telangana, allocation of funds to Pranahita-Chevella lift irrigation scheme by announcing it a national project and funds for development of roads and drinking water grid.
The Minister was accompanied by Principal Secretary (Finance) V. Nagi Reddy and special representative of Telangana in Delhi S. Venugopala Chary. Later, the minister called on Union Minister for Food and PDS Ramvilas Paswan.
