HYDERABAD May 22 2005: The All-India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of Andhra Pradesh affairs, Digvijay Singh, has said the Government has been asked to pay special attention to the development of Telangana region.

"I have requested the Chief Minister to be more sensitive to the issue concerning the region," Mr. Singh said while addressing a press conference here on Sunday after attending the meeting of the Manifesto Implementation Committee (MIC) of which he is the chairman. Of the 65 lakh acres additional ayacut planned to be created by completing pending irrigation projects, 28 lakh acres would be covered in Telangana region alone, he added.

The MIC meeting was attended by the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the APCC president, K. Keshava Rao, the MIC members — Shiv Charan Mathur and C. K. Jaffer Sharief — and the AICC secretary, K. Jeyakumar.

Surprise visits

Mr. Singh said the Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues and members of the MIC would go on surprise visits to inspect ongoing works relating to the promises. The Collector and officials concerned would be held responsible for any lapse. Of the 158 promises made, 28 were fulfilled and 126 under implementation, he said.

Talks with naxals

To a question, he said the Government was still open for peace talks and the ball was in the naxals court. "It is for naxal leaders to take the initiative and resume the talks," he said. Expressing satisfaction at the one-year rule of the Congress Government in the State, Mr. Singh said four poll promises made by the party had been dropped as they were found to be impractical.