K. Chandrashekar Rao called on  Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Defence  Arun Jaitley in New Delhi today.Government of India has agreed to give the defense lands for the construction of new State Secretariat and for expansion of Medchal Highway and Karimnagar Rajiv Rahadari. The center further stated that it would consider the request of the Telangana State Government for reduction of GST on the Public Utility projects and will take appropriate decision.The CM has discussed the issue of defense lands and reduction of GST on Public Utility projects with  Jaitley. The Union Finance and Defence Minister told CM that the Centre will consider favorably the two requests made by the state government. Jaitley has informed the CM that the Centre is ready to handover the Bison Polo Grounds land for the construction of a new State secretariat as well as lands required for the expansion of Medchel and Rajiv Rahadari. He said that the Centre has examined the request from the state on the matter from all angles and decided to hand over the required land.Sri Jaitley said the decision on the request for the reduction of GST on Public Utility projects like Mission Bhagiratha, Irrigation projects, Road works will be taken after discussing the matter in the GST Council meeting to be held in Hyderabad on September 9, 2017. Sri Arun Jaitley said the GST on the construction works is 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 defense lands to the state government and his assurance to consider positively on the GST reduction. The CM said the Centre has recognised 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 and said the state would rise the issue at the meet.Chief Advisor to the State Government Rajiv Sharma and CM’s Principal Secretary  S Narsing Rao accompanied CM when he met the union minister.