Clearance sought for poverty eradication project

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 1. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, today urged the Centre to expedite approval for the World Bank assisted State Government's poverty eradication project.

Mr. Naidu, who was here in connection with the National Development Council Meeting, met the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and sought early release of funds for drought relief. Mr. Vajpayee informed him that an inter-Ministry meeting would take place and decide the issue soon.

In his meeting with the Union Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, the Chief Minister sought clearance for the Rs. 2,235 crore poverty eradication project to be funded by the World Bank aimed at improving standards in 480 backward mandals of the State. Mr. Sinha is understood to have said that clearance would be granted soon to enable processing by the international funding body.

He also sought notification granting exemption from custom, excise and special custom duties for the Special Economic Zone being set up at Kakinada and reduction in duties for computer hardware to enable States spread IT programmes.

On the request for exemption from duties for import of sports equipment for the National Games being hosted by Andhra Pradesh next year, the State has been asked to provide a certificate through the Sports Authority of India on its usage for the purpose.

Mr. Naidu also met the RBI Governor, Mr. Bimal Jalan, and suggested that in the wake of failure of cooperative banks, the RBI Regional Director in the State be made the nodal officer and coordinate with the Registrar of Cooperative Societies.

The Chief Minister held discussion with a legal expert on the forthcoming case filed by the Karnataka Government in the Supreme Court over sharing Krishna water and announced a decision to hold an all-party meeting at Hyderabad on September 8 in this connection.

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Section  : Southern States
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