Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao met Union finance minister Arun Jaitley and expressed concern over the delay in raising of the FRBM borrowing limit for TS from 3 to 3.5 per cent of the GSDP despite the Cabinet approving it in April.

Mr Rao also met Union water resources minister Uma Bharati and urged her to resolve irrigation disputes between TS and AP. Mr Rao told Mr Jaitley that TS was met the eligibility criteria for higher borrowing limit as per the recommendations of 14th Finance Commission as it is the only revenue-surplus state in the country after Gujarat.

He said the TS government has lined up several irrigation projects by spending over Rs 1-lakh crore in three years, besides investing Rs 40,000 crore on Mission Bhagiratha and that the state requires Central assistance for the speedy and successful completion of these projects. Mr Rao also sought Rs 450 crore for development of backward areas in the state.

The CM later met Ms Bharati and urged her to ensure that the Brijish Kumar Tribunal delivers its verdict on sharing of Krishna water within six months.

He complained against AP for not cooperating on sharing of Krishna, Godvavari waters though other neighbouring states like Maharashtra and Karnataka were cooperating on efforts to resolve the water disputes.

After the meeting, Ms Bharati showered praises on the TS government on the irrigation front, especially the implementation of Mission Kakatiya.

“TS’ Mission Kakatiya is a model for all states. We have constituted a task force to look into its implementation in all other states,” Ms Bharati said.