Guntur: On Saturday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, requesting the expedited release of funds for the Polavaram irrigation project and the development of Amaravati, the state's capital city. Naidu's visit to the national capital also included discussions with Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil.
Accompanied by TDP MPs and Union Ministers K. Rammohan Naidu and Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, Naidu expressed his gratitude to Modi for the Rs 15,000-crore allocation for Amaravati's development announced in the Union Budget. However, he urged for the early release of funds for the Polavaram project and sought a decision in the upcoming cabinet meeting to accelerate its completion.
Naidu also requested Special Assistance for Capital Investment (SACI) and the release of backward region grants to support underdeveloped districts in Rayalaseema, Prakasam, and North Coastal regions.
During his meeting with Amit Shah, Naidu addressed pending issues under the State Reorganisation Act. With Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, he discussed structuring multilateral financial assistance for Amaravati.
On Friday, Naidu met with Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil to discuss the construction of the Polavaram project's diaphragm wall. Following a report from a central government-appointed expert panel, Naidu emphasized the need for improved Centre-State coordination to ensure the timely and safe completion of the diaphragm wall and other project components.
Naidu also requested that Central Water Commission (CWC) officers expedite the approval process for construction methodologies related to the diaphragm wall, ECRF Dam, and associated works.
The visit comes amid rising public debt in Andhra Pradesh, which has increased from 31.02% of GSDP in 2019-20 to 33.32% in 2023-24. The TDP, with 16 Lok Sabha MPs, remains a key ally in the ruling NDA coalition.
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