NEW DELHI: The Centre will immediately review the existing allocation of power to various States in the Southern grid. This was announced by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy here on Thursday after a meeting with Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

Briefing mediapersons, Dr. Reddy said the Power Minister also assured him of an increase in allocation of power to the State in view of the crisis on the power front. Stating that Andhra Pradesh was currently facing a power shortage of 1200 MW, the Chief Minister made out a case for allocating 500 MW of the total 1048 MW unallocated power in the Southern grid to the State.

As for the State's demand that surplus power from the Eastern grid also be diverted to the State, Mr. Shinde informed Dr. Reddy that this would not be possible in winter months. However, he said it was an option that could be explored after winter. Also, Mr. Shinde said he would expedite release of funds to Andhra Pradesh under the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana.

At another meeting with Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, the Chief Minister sought Central support for a health insurance scheme. He told the Centre the plans to implement a health insurance scheme for below poverty line families on a pilot basis in three of the most backward districts of the State -- Anantapur, Mahabubnagar and Srikakulam.

The Chief Minister urged Dr. Ramadoss to postpone the implementation of the regulation mandating the printing of the skull mark on beedi and cigarette packets. Appreciating the need for such warnings on beedi and cigarette packets, he said the regulation should be deferred till alternative employment opportunities were evolved for the large number of poor women dependent on beedi-making for a livelihood.

Dr. Reddy also met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and secured from him an assurance on the release of Rs. 65 crores immediately to help the State Government provide relief and rehabilitation to the victims of the cyclone that hit nine districts of Andhra Pradesh in November.

Meets Sonia

At his meeting with Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel, the Chief Minister sought approval for a proposal to develop a dedicated airport express rail link from the existing Begumpet airport to the new International airport being constructed in Hyderabad. Other demands placed before the Civil Aviation Ministry included Air India Express services from Hyderabad to Bangkok, Riyadh and Kuwait, besides upgradation of Visakhapatanam, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Tirupati airports.

As for his meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the Chief Minister said he apprised her of the political situation in the State.

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