The Centre has agreed to spare the Defence lands for construction of a new State Secretariat and also for widening of Medchal Highway and Karimnagar-Rajiv Rahadari. The Center also stated it would consider the request of the Telangana State Government for reduction of GST on the Public Utility projects and will take an appropriate decision.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao met Union Finance & Defence Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on Saturday. The CM discussed the issue of Defence lands and reduction of GST on Public Utility projects with Jaitley. The Defence Minister told the Chief Minister that the Centre would consider favorably the two requests made by the State government. Jaitley informed KCR that the Centre was ready to handover the Bison Polo Grounds land for construction of a new Secretariat complex as well as lands required for expansion of Medchel and Rajiv Rahadari. He further said the Centre examined the request from the State on the matter from all angles and decided to hand over the required land.
Jaitley said the decision on reducing GST on Public Utility projects like Mission Bhagiratha, Irrigation projects and road works will be taken after discussing the matter in the GST Council meeting scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on September 9. Arun Jaitley said the GST on the construction works was reduced from 18 per cent to 12 per cent in response to the request made by the Telangana State Government. He said a decision would also be taken to further reduce it from 12 per cent to 5 per cent.
The Chief Minister thanked the Union Minister for agreeing to handover Defence lands to the State government and his assurance to consider positively on the GST reduction. The CM said the Centre has recognized the importance of having a new Secretariat and expansion of Rajiv Rahadari, Medchel highways. He hoped that the GST Council will also take a favorable decision on the GST reduction to Public Utility projects in its meeting to be held in Hyderabad when the State raised the issue at the meet.
Chief Advisor to State Government Rajiv Sharma and CM’s Principal Secretary S Narsing Rao accompanied the Chief Minister when he called on the Union Finance Minister. (NSS)