Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy urged Rajiv Kumar Vice – Chairman of NITI Aayog to support for the progress and development of Andhra Pradesh. Rajiv Kumar met CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday as a part of his two day visit to AP.

YS Jagan urged him in the meeting provide adequate assistance to streamline power generation as DISCOMS are facing severe losses. AP Government officials at a meeting with the NITI Aayog team sought assistance to grant Special Status, industrial concessions and tax exemptions on par with those enjoyed by the backward regions like Koraput and Bolangir in Odisha, and Bundelkhand.

AP officials highlighted the financial difficulties being faced by the state following its bifurcation. They pointed out that the loss of Hyderabad has eroded large-scale revenues, even as promises such as Special Status have not been fulfilled. AP Government in a press release said that NITI Aayog team was informed that per capita income in Andhra Pradesh is much lower than Telangana.

AP has also requested the NITI Aayog team to pursue the Rs 6,284 crore arrears from Telangana power utilities and also to clear the Rs 18,969 crore resource gap amounts as confirmed by the CAG.