10 Dec :Prof. Saifuddin Soz, the Union Minister of Water Resources has assured the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy that the Centre would extend full technical support and other assistance to the State Government in the implementation of various projects. He gave this assurance to the Chief Minister who called on him here today.
In the course of the meeting between them various issues like the Bhabli barrage, and the issue of declaration of Pranahita and Polavaram as national projects were discussed. Regarding the Andhra Pradesh CM’s plea to enhance grant percentage under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) The Minister informed the Chief Minister that the guidelines of AIBP have been finalized by a Group of Ministers and the Union Cabinet. The States are already getting 90% grant for drought prone and tribal area under AIBP, he said.