Andhra Pradesh Cabinet to write to PM on special status

Cabinet decides to push for talks between Telangana, Andhra Pradesh on water.

Vijayawada

: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Monday decided to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding special category status for AP and implementing promises mentioned in the AP Reorganisation Act.

The four-hour-long Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at his camp office here, also decided to push for talks between Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh to discuss the water sharing issues and press for stoppage of the irrigation projects proposed by the neighbouring state across the Krishna and Godavari rivers.

Briefing the media on the decisions taken by his Cabinet, Mr Naidu said that the two Telugu states should resolve water-related disputes through discussions. He said that the AP Reorganisation Act clearly stated that no new projects should be initiated without the consent of the river management board.

The CM said that he had already met Mr Modi several times and other senior figures, but important issues were still pending. “Even though the state has registered the highest growth rate, it is still comparatively far behind TS,” Mr Naidu said.

Reacting to a question, he said that NITI-Aayog was not aware of state’s financial condition and Centre had released funds on par with other states like Telangana and had not implemented the AP Reorganisation Act.

He said that it was his responsibility to develop the state whether the Centre gives anything or not. “I need to be patient. If the Centre does not do justice to AP, I will still have to be patient,” the Chief Minister said.