Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday said Union finance minister Arun Jaitely had assured that the September 9 GST Council meeting in Hyderabad would “positively consider” the Telangana state government’s request to reduce GST on projects of public importance to 5 per cent.
Mr Rao left for Delhi on Friday night; his visit ahead of the Union Cabinet reshuffle fuelled speculation that the TRS may be joining the NDA government. TRS sources said Mr Rao’s trip was scheduled to undergo eye surgery and to meet Union ministers to take up issues concerning the state.
A CMO release issued on Saturday stated, “The CM has discussed the issue of defence lands and reduction of GST on public utility projects with Mr Jaitley. The finance minister told the CM that the Centre would consider favourably the two requests made by the state government.”
According to the CMO, Mr Jaitley informed the CM that the Centre was ready to hand over the Bison Polo Ground for the construction of the Secretariat as well as land required for widening of the Medchal highway and Rajiv Rahadari.
“He said that the Centre has examined the request made by the state on the matter and decided to hand over the required land,” the CMO release said.
The CM thanked Mr Jaitley for agreeing to hand over defence land and his assurance to consider positively the reduction of GST. He hoped that the GST council will also take a favourable decision on the GST reduction in September 9 meeting.
Government chief adviser Rajiv Sharma and Chief Minister’s principal secretary S. Narsing Rao accompanied Mr Rao when he met Mr Jaitley.
