HYDERABAD: Indicating that the state government is revisiting its earlier proposal to construct a new secretariat building on the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to permit the authorities concerned to hand over the Parade Grounds, which is under control of defence ministry, to the state government.
Days after dropping Parade Grounds from the list of selected places for construction of an ultra-modern secretariat, the CM on Monday seemed to have surprised many by requesting the PM to hand over the ground to the state.
The state first thought of constructing new buildings for the Secretariat at Erragadda hospital. Later, it wanted to build it at Parade Grounds. When defence ministry refused to hand over the grounds, it decided to replace the existing secretariat near Hussainsagar.
However, construction did not take off as the state was first focused on building new district collectorate complexes.During his 80-minute interaction with Modi, Rao discussed, in detail, various issues concerning Telangana.
Farm income tax
Pushing his farmers’ agenda at the national level, Rao requested Modi to exempt all agricultural produce and products from income tax. He also suggested enactment of a law in this regard.
“The entire income generated from agriculture is being exempted from income tax now. There are several professions and trades which solely depend on agriculture in villages. Several backward communities eke out a living by carrying on their family professions. Taxing their income is not justified,” Rao told Modi.
On GST, he said states should not suffer any loss on account of its introduction.
Other demands
Rao told the PM that the state Assembly passed an Act enhancing the reservation for STs and Muslims.
“We need the Centre’s approval of it. Similarly, the issue regarding how much percentage of reservation is to be given in education and employment should be left to the discretion of the states,” he said and urged Modi to introduce a bill in Parliament for categorisation of SCs into four groups.
Rao also sought an increase in the number of Assembly constituencies as assured in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, expeditious bifurcation of the High Court, release of Rs 1,400 crore due from CAMPA and national project status for the Kaleswaram lift irrigation project.
Meanwhile, the Union law ministry has cleared the state’s Land Acquisition Bill which will go to the Union Cabinet and then to the President.