State to extend all help for PSUs: CM

Hyderabad, Sept 19 :

 Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Saturday agreed to hand over the land already allotted for the new Shipping Technology Unit at Visakhapatnam as and when required. Mr Rosaiah gave this assurance to Mr A P V N Sharma, Secretary, Shipping, Government of India, who called on him today.

The Chief Minister said that the state government will give all out support to the Government of India for establishment of Public Sector Units in the State. He said the state government will provide all infrastructure facilities and power and water at lower tariff to the units.

The Chief Minister said it will meet the requirements of even the Indian defence forces. He said he will also request the Government of India to complete the project in time. The Chief  Minister recalled that the Government of India has already agreed to establish the second unit of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant at a cost of Rs 9,000 crore.

The Government of India is also establishing a Central Law University. Mr Rosaiah said Visakhapatnam will be developed as an international city with the setting up of an international airport. Meanwhile the Food Corporation of India has agreed to procure an additional levy of 5 lakh tonnes of rice from Andhra Pradesh. Mr D K Panwar, Chairman, Food Corporation of India, today met the Chief Minister Rosaiah.

The Chief Minister told the FCI Chairman that additional go-down space will be created for the procured rice. It may be recalled here that the FCI has agreed to procure 73 lakh tonnes of rice this year i.e. kharif and rabi put together. However, with the then Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekahra Reddy’s continuous persuasion, FCI agreed to procure 7 more lakh tonnes this year. With the additional 5 more lakh tonnes now agreed, FCI will procure a total of 85 lakh tonnes of rice this year.

Mr Rosaiah said additional godown space will be created by using the private godowns with a 5-year guarantee scheme. He said 3 lakh tonnes of rice will have to be sent towards the Public Distribution System for the Rs 2-a-kg rice scheme every month for the white card holding families. The Chief Minister said that he will hold a meeting with Municipal Corporation officials and Public representatives at Vijayawada on the September 25 to review the flooding of the city due to the recent rains.