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Sunday, Apr 08, 2007
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YSR holds talks on Cabinet expansion

Special Correspondent

Meets Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Digvijay Singh

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Saturday held preliminary discussions with the party leadership on expanding/reshuffling his Council of Ministers, an exercise that was put on hold till the formation of the Legislative Council.

Dr. Reddy, who arrived here for a conference of Chief Justices and Chief Ministers scheduled for Sunday, met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh, incharge of party affairs in the State.

Mr. Singh said main criterion for preparing a list of those who could be inducted should be experience. First-timers and members of the newly formed Council would have to wait for their turn, he said. The party would leave it to the Chief Minister to draw up his own team.

On his part, the Chief Minister said separately that during his meeting with Ms. Gandhi, he briefed her about the latest political situation in the State and discussed administrative matters. He, however, parried question whether the issue of expansion too figured in the talks.

Addressing a press conference after his meeting with the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister said he sought intervention to expedite Central clearances for the Rs.12,000-crore Indira Sagar (Polavaram) project, on which works have been suspended since May 2006 for want of clearances from Tribal Affairs and Water Resources Ministry.

The State also sought increase in component of Central grant from 30 per cent to 90 per cent and more allocation under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme since Andhra Pradesh has 16 identified districts included under the Prime Minister's special package for ameliorating the hardship of farmers.

Dr. Reddy said the Prime Minister praised the State Government's effort on the irrigation front and remarked that other States should emulate it. "Yours is a visionary Government," the Chief Minister quoted Dr. Singh having told him.

The State Government also urged the Centre to expedite steps and direct Maharashtra Government to stop construction work on Babli project. The technical team from Central Water Commission was expected to submit its report next week and Prime Minister said the Centre would take the necessary steps after it.

The Chief Minister also urged the Centre to extend the incentive bonus of Rs. 40 per quintal of paddy over and above the minimum support price till rabi season. Dr. Singh said while he would examine the suggestion, it took into account the procurement done by the Food Corporation of India as also the available stocks.During the press conference, the Chief Minister joined issue with Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu and accused him of `spreading disinformation' that the State Government was not doing much on Babli project.

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