Date:14/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/14/stories/2008101454290600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

YSR seeks Rs. 1,500-crore debt relief for weavers

Special Correspondent

This will benefit 4.5 lakh people, he tells Manmohan

Seeks early forest clearance to Polavaram
Wants fertilizer supply increased

NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to announce a Rs. 1,500-crore debt relief to the most deserving poor handloom weavers in the country, such as the one being implemented for the farmers.

The Chief Minister, who is here to participate in the National Integration Council meeting, met Dr. Singh on Monday evening. He said such relief would benefit 4.5 lakh weavers, including 1.5 lakh in Andhra Pradesh as they were undergoing difficulties in eking out their livelihood, marketing their products and financing their weaving activity. According to a rough estimate by the State government, at least Rs. 300 crore is required to help out handloom weavers.

Dr. Reddy asked Dr. Singh to direct the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry to provide 8.93 million cubic metres of natural gas per day to the State from the first supplies of gas by the Reliance Industries Limited from Krishna-Godavari basin to meet the requirement of the existing power projects. He also sought early forest clearance to the Polavaram project; increased fertilizer supply during the kharif and the forthcoming rabi seasons; increased coal supply from Mahanadi Coal Fields Ltd to Dr. Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station, Vijayawada; and introducing a constitutional amendment in the forthcoming Parliament session on sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes.

Meets Paswan

Later, Dr. Reddy met Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, urging him to increase fertilizer supply to the State.