PNS|Vijayawada
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held a series of crucial meetings with Union Ministers in New Delhi on Tuesday, seeking the Centre’s support for a range of state development projects and policy initiatives. The meetings come soon after the Chief Minister’s return from an international tour aimed at attracting investments to the state.
During his visit, the Chief Minister met four key Union Ministers and presented several high-priority proposals, emphasising the need for timely assistance to accelerate Andhra Pradesh’s development agenda.
In his first meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, Naidu discussed the allocation of central funds under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Stressing the importance of this flagship scheme, he urged the Centre to expedite the release of funds to expand the piped water supply across rural areas of the state. He also presented details of the proposed Polavaram–Banakacharla Link Project, a transformative initiative aimed at making Andhra Pradesh drought-resilient. Naidu highlighted the long-term benefits of the interlinking project and sought both technical and financial support from the Centre.
The Chief Minister also discussed the Atal Bhujal Yojana, highlighting state-level efforts to improve groundwater recharge and sustainability. He appealed for increased central funding to strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s water conservation strategies.
In a separate meeting with Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Chief Minister reiterated the longstanding demand for the establishment of a High Court Bench in Kurnool. He urged the Central Government to expedite the necessary procedures and extend full cooperation for the proposal.
Later, during discussions with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Naidu focused on the challenges facing the state’s aqua sector due to rising US import tariffs. He expressed concern over the 26% tariff on Indian seafood, which has severely impacted aqua farmers in the state. The Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to initiate talks with the United States to resolve the issue and proposed a multi-tiered strategy, including short-term relief measures and long-term policy interventions to safeguard the sector.
In his final engagement, Naidu met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and briefed him on several key initiatives undertaken by the Andhra Pradesh Government. He sought the Home Ministry’s support in implementing critical reforms related to governance and law and order.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Union Ministers Rammohan Naidu and Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, along with other Members of Parliament from Andhra Pradesh, during the meetings.
Naidu’s visit to the national capital marks a renewed push for Centre–State collaboration as Andhra Pradesh seeks to fast-track infrastructure development and address key sectoral challenges.
