Awaiting Central Arrears To Clear Crop Loans: KCR

The Telangana government would waive off the remaining Rs 8,500 crores of the promised crop loan waiver in a single go upon getting the pending arrears and funds through the FRBM and other heads from the Centre, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said today.

Replying to a discussion in the Assembly on the farmers' suicides, he said that unlike the previous governments, the TRS regime had waived off Rs 17,000 crores in crop loans so far in two installments.

In coordination with the BJP, the TRS would request the Centre to release the funds due to Telangana as per the 14th Finance Commission's recommendations. The government would waive off the rest of the loans upon getting about Rs 3,000 crores through FRBM - five per cent of the actual allocation of funds through FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) - and Rs 1,000 crores through GO 59.

"From the Centre we have yet to get Rs 4,500 crores towards commercial taxes," he said.

Flaying the Opposition for their continuous allegations, he said that his governmemnt welcomed constructive criticism for development but not continuous carping.

On power, the government could buy 1,000 MW power from Chattisgarh, and had plans to produce 21,000 MW power at a cost of Rs. 95,000 crores through various projects, the Chief Minister stated.

"We will supply nine hours of power each day to crops next year," he added.