Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday for a “courtesy” meeting, in which issues pertaining to pending projects and proposals were discussed, including the transfer of Bison Polo ground held by the Indian Army.
A statement from the Chief Minister's Office in Hyderabad that described the meet as a courtesy call said the PM responded positively to the CM's requests. This was KCR's first meeting with Modi after the former was sworn in as the Chief Minister for the second time following a massive victory by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the recently held Assembly elections.
KCR reiterated the demand for the transfer of the Bison Polo ground, a defence land in Secunderabad, for the construction of the new Secretariat. The Bison Polo and Gymkhana grounds sit on about 61 acres of defence lands, and the Defence Ministry has already given principle approval for the transfer of these lands. However, earlier this week the Defence Ministry stated that a decision on transfer cannot be taken due to a case is pending with the Hyderabad High Court.
The Chief Minister also sought the establishment of the Indian Institute of Informational Technology (IIIT) in Karimnagar and establishment of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Hyderabad. He also sought 21 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) in new districts, sanction for the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Hyderabad and revival of the Cement Corporation of India (CCI) in Adilabad in joint collaboration with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), as proposed by the Ministry of Surface Transport.
KCR also urged Modi to release funds for the National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) in Zaheerabad and sanction of Rs.1,000 crore for development of the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park at Warangal.
He requested the Prime Minister to refer the petitions of Telangana to the Krishna River Water Disputes Resolution Tribunal and accord national project status to the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) and the sanction of a special grant for this major irrigation project.
(With IANS inputs)