Ahead of the crucial Union budget, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held a significant meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday. The primary agenda was to request enhanced financial allocations for key central projects in the state, with a special focus on the Polavaram irrigation project.
Urgent Push for Polavaram Funding
Naidu's visit to the national capital followed his inspection of the Polavaram project site earlier on Wednesday. The Chief Minister emphasized the urgent need for additional central funding to complete the Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) works for the massive project. The Polavaram project has a strict deadline for completion by March 2027, making the upcoming financial year's budgetary allocations absolutely critical.
Official sources indicate that timely funds are vital for the state government to execute the remaining works and meet the 2027 deadline. The meeting underscored that the project's progress hinges on the financial support it receives in the forthcoming Union budget.
Defence Projects and Other Key Discussions
Beyond Polavaram, Chief Minister Naidu also urged the central government to expedite several other important projects planned for Andhra Pradesh. A major point of discussion was accelerating defence-related initiatives. These include:
- The Nagayalanka missile test range.
- New defence manufacturing clusters proposed across the districts of Prakasam, Visakhapatnam, Krishna, and Kurnool.
Naidu argued that fast-tracking these projects would boost industrial development and generate substantial employment in the state.
Addressing Inter-State Water Disputes
The high-level meeting also covered emerging political issues affecting the state. A prominent topic was the ongoing water dispute with the neighbouring state of Telangana regarding the sharing of Godavari river water. This issue is of paramount importance for Andhra Pradesh's agricultural and water security.
Naidu's direct engagement with a senior Union minister like Amit Shah highlights the state's proactive approach to securing necessary resources and resolving contentious issues. The outcomes of these discussions are now eagerly awaited as the Union finance ministry finalizes the budget provisions.
