KCR: CENTRE’S STIMULUS IS AN EMPTY SHELL
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Monday ridiculed the stimulus package announced by the Centre in five tranches, describing it as a “dolla” (empty shell). The package was an eyewash, he said.
He rubbished the conditional increase in the FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) limits from three to five per cent, while speaking to the media on the package at a press conference at Pragathi Bhavan.
“It is very unfortunate that the Centre is pushing for reforms holding a knife at the state governments’ necks,” he said.
While reminding that Telangana state already had the facility to borrow 3.5 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product, the Chief Minister said, “It is pathetic that the Centre should insist on states implementing the reforms in four sectors to qualify for increased borrowing during a such time. Is the Centre giving some charity? Should the states have to go with a begging bowl to the Union government for assistance at such critical times?”
Giving a clear indication to the AP government that Telangana state will not compromise if its rights over Krishna waters are infringed upon, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao said, “both Telangana state and KCR have crystal clear understanding over the state’s rights on water resources in the Krishna and Godavari basins.”
The Chief Minister was replying to questions during a press conference with regard to the AP government’s move to divert 8 tmc ft (thousand million cubic feet) of water every day from the Srisailam dam to Rayalaseema by taking up a new lift scheme as well as increasing the water drawing capacity of the Pothireddypadu head regulator to 80,000 cusecs.
He said, “we are building projects within our allocations made in undivided Andhra Pradesh, and the neighbouring state too has to follow it.”
The Chief Minister said, “Telangana state is dependent on the Godavari water as it is within the Godavari basin. We are aware of that plenty of water is available in the Godavari basin and we had proposed to the AP government to utilise the Godavari waters in a cordial atmosphere, keeping in view of the requirements of both the states.”
He said that the Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS), which the AP government was objecting to, was constructed after taking clearance from the Apex Council.
He said that the TS government had requested the Centre and the authorities concerned for the allocation of 650 tmc ft of share in the surplus waters in addition to 650 tmc ft allocated water and a committee had been constituted to pursue this matter.
On the Pothireddypadu controversy and the AP government’s plans, he said he would react at an appropriate time.
Responding to a question on the Opposition criticism of the government’s handling of the Pothireddypadu issue, Mr Rao said it was better to speak as little as possible on their deeds in the past.