New Delhi, July 11 (KNN) In order to support local bodies in the state and ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential services to the citizens amid COVID-19 pandemic, the Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy urged the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to release Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation.

In this regard, a delegation led by Buggana on Friday met the Finance Minister and other central ministers and demanded to disburse the pending Rs 3,832.89 crore GST compensation and other grants to the state, besides extra funds in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

According to an official statement, Buggana urged the Union government to grant Rs 3,805.62 crore towards Polavaram project, Rs 1,597.27 crore towards local bodies grant and Rs 700 crore towards development assistance to backward districts.

The state's finance minister also urged the Centre to release a revenue deficit grant of Rs 18,830.87 crore as claimed by the state government.

''The local bodies require additional support as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Early release of these funds to the state will ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential services to the citizens,'' the statement quoted Buggana as saying.

The delegation also called on Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur, Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy, Niti Ayog CEO Amitabh Kant and its advisor Avinash Mishra and discussed various pending projects and issues related to the Polavaram project.

The state Finance Minister was accompanied by Principal Advisor to AP Government Ajeya Kallam, Special Chief Secretary (Water Resources) Adityanath Das, and Principal Secretary (Finance) S S Rawat.