Bhatti Urges Centre to Release Dues Immediately

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka today met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at her residence in New Delhi, and urged her to clear all pending dues owed to Telangana under various Central schemes.

He sought the immediate release of Rs 4,08,48,54,461, which remained due to the Telangana government.

During the meeting, Vikramarka also specifically requested the Union minister to direct financial institutions to restructure the debts of various corporations and Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs).

He also urged the Centre to allocate a special relief fund for the State's backward districts as part of Telangana's entitlement under Section 94(2) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

Vikramarka also called for rectification of an allocation error in the release of funds for Centrally sponsored schemes for the financial year 2014-15.

Their discussion also covered outstanding payments from the Andhra Pradesh Power Finance Corporation, which Telangana was yet to receive as part of the excess liability allocation to the Telangana Power Finance Corporation.

The Deputy Chief Minister asserted the need for the Centre's intervention in resolving such pending financial disputes between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, particularly those concerning power utilities.

Accompanying Vikramarka at the meeting were Special Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao, Resident Commissioner Gaurav Uppal, and MPs Mallu Ravi, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Balaram Nayak, among others.