Coal Blocks, Highways, 2.5 Million Houses: Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Seeks PM Modi’s Support on 12 Issues

Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy and his deputy Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday.

The meeting lasted almost an hour during which Reddy and Vikramarka submitted petitions on 12 pending matters in the state.

1. Allotment of coal blocks to Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL): Singareni is a public-sector coal mining company. In this, the Telangana government has a 51 per cent equity share while the central government has 49 per cent. The CM requested that the Shravanapally coal block, Koyagudem Block 3, and Satthupalli Block 3 mines be allocated to Singareni to meet the electricity needs of the state.

2. Indian Institute of Management (IIM): The central government took a policy decision to establish one IIM in each state, but no IIM has been granted to Telangana so far.

3. Revival of Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) project: In 2010, the then central government sanctioned ITIR projects in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. However, it was put on the backburner due to a change in government in 2014.

4. Request for Integral Coach Factory at Kazipet: During the bifurcation of the state, the central government promised to set up a wagon manufacturing centre at Kazipet. However, in July 2023, the ministry of railways announced the setting up of a periodic overhauling workshop at Kazipet instead of the wagon manufacturing centre.

5. Inclusion of Telangana in India Semiconductor Mission: Renowned companies are interested in setting up semiconductor labs in Hyderabad. All these proposals are currently under review by the India Semiconductor Mission. The CM requested that Telangana be given a place in the India Semiconductor Mission.

6. Allocation of 2.5 million houses under PMAY: Highlighting the lower allocation in the initial phase, the CM requested the sanction of 2.5 million houses for Telangana in the upcoming phase of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The state is prepared to align its guidelines with those of PMAY.

7. Release of pending BRGF grants: Under the Backward Areas Development Fund (BRGF), the central government allocated Rs 2,250 crore to Telangana for 2015-2019. The CM requested the release of Rs1,800 crore due to Telangana for the years 2019-24.

8. Transfer of defence department lands: In view of increased traffic needs in Hyderabad, the state government has planned elevated corridors on Hyderabad-Karimnagar road and national highway 44. The CM requested the smooth transfer of defence lands in these areas for construction.

9. Setting up of steel plant at Khammam: Reddy requested to speed up the process of constructing a steel plant in Khammam district. The feasibility reports for the project have been submitted already.

10. Construction of Regional Ring Road: In the first phase of the project, the central government approved the construction of the northern part of the Hyderabad Regional Ring Road (national highway from Sangareddy to Choutuppal). The state government is willing to share half of the cost of land acquisition. The CM requested that the southern extension should also be designated as a national highway and be taken up under the Bharatmala project.

11. The CM requested Modi to upgrade 13 state highways to national highways.

12. He also asked for Navodaya Vidyalayas for 12 newly formed districts in Telangana.

Revanth Reddy also met union home minister Amit Shah and requested him to allocate necessary funds for the modernisation of the state’s highest intelligence departments, Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) and Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB).

To control and curb drug and cybercrimes, the chief minister requested Rs 88 crore for TGANB and Rs 90 crore for TGCSB for the procurement of modern technology and equipment.

Additionally, he emphasised the necessity of reviewing the IPS cadre every five years.

The CM also highlighted the need for establishing security force camps in Adilabad, Mancherial, and Kumuram Bheem Asifabad districts to counter left-wing extremism.

He also sought the Centre’s cooperation in resolving pending issues related to the state’s creation out of Andhra Pradesh.