Telangana seeks 20 lakh LPG connections

It has also sought an increase in the state-specific borrowing limit, from 3 per cent to 3.5 per cent of GSDP, release of Rs 6,640.89 crore CST compensation to meet the expenditures for the government’s flagship programmes like Mission Kakatiya, Water Grid, crop loan waiver scheme etc. which are facing paucity of funds, and sanction of five smart cities on the occasion of the first anniversary Telangana formation day on June 2.

Finance minister Etala Rajender handed over the request letters from Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to Union finance minister Arun Jaitley and Union minister of state for petroleum and natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

“The Union ministers were quite positive to the state’s requests. We expect a positive decision and release of funds,” Mr Rajender said.

The Chief Minister, in his letter to the Union petroleum minister, said that he had plans to give 100 per cent LPG coverage to BPL households to avoid burning firewood that was not only bad for health but also for the environment.

He requested the Union minister to sanction the LPG connections on June 1, the eve of the Telangana Formation Day. The Chief Minister thanked the Union ministers and PSU oil companies for release of 3 lakh LPG connections during 2014-2015.

During his meeting with Mr Jaitley, Mr Rajender handed over the letter from Mr Rao in which the CM thanked the minister for partial release of CST compensation and also requested for the release of 1/3rd CST compensation due that would be settled during 2015-16.

“Telangana has to receive the balance CST compensation of Rs 6,640.89 crore. Therefore, I request you to kindly release the CST compensation as per assurance in one instalment at the earliest as the new state has to finance its flagship programmes like Mission Kakatiya, Water Grid, Crop Loan Waiver programme etc. and the existing resources of the state are insufficient to meet the demand,” the CM wrote to Mr Jaitley.