Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has claimed that Telangana will be a drought free State after the completion of all irrigation projects.
Addressing the 6th anniversary of Telangana State Formation Day celebrations at Public Gardens on Sunday, the Chief Minister listed out various schemes being implemented by the State Government for the growth and prosperity of Telangana. “When once the irrigation projects are completed, all around Telangana one can see only green fields.
No one can either hear the word drought or can see it. All through 365 days in a year, the tanks, the reservoirs and the barrages resemble a pot full of water. With two crops a year the state of Telangana will emerge as a rice bowl. The increased agriculture production in the state will rejuvenate the Telangana economy.
Water all along the river, the reservoirs with full water and the increased underground water levels will not only better the Telangana economy but also that of ecology,” he said.
KCR said Telangana, which was initially considered impossible, was achieved through a public movement and its achievements in a short period of five years have cleared lot of doubts and misconceptions that surrounded its formation.
“Tremendous maturity and expertise were exhibited in governance and administration without giving any scope for discordant and flurry. Without any undesirable consequences and maintaining perfect law and order the state is marching ahead on progressive path,” he said.
“This is the collective victory of people of Telangana who stood united and achieved with determination. The confidence of people of Telangana on us that those of us who spearheaded a relentless and non-compromising struggle to achieve the state would also take the new state forward in the path of progress, has been kept up cent percent.
By giving equal importance to both development and welfare we initiated the process of reconstruction of the state,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister said that as a result of forward looking and efficient fiscal policy of the Telangana Government, giving no scope whatsoever it may be for political corruption and adopting strict financial discipline, today, Telangana has emerged as a powerful force stabilising itself as a state of progression.
“Our state registered on an average 16.5% revenue growth rate during the past five years. If the same trend continues, in future, the indications clearly show that the state’s revenue will witness a multiple growth rate. To further expand the development of the state this is a positive evolution,” he said.
KCR said permanent solutions to several critical problems were found and sectors like Energy was rejuvenated to the extent that today Telangana is the one and only State that provides round the clock 24-hour power supply to all sectors including agriculture. The qualitative change in the power supply rejuvenated both agriculture and industrial sectors, he said.
The Chief Minister claimed that Mission Bhagiratha scheme has resolved the drinking water problem and by July end, 100% rural areas would get drinking water supply through taps. Even in urban areas the works are being completed on war footing.
“A number of welfare programs were conceived and implemented. The Aasara Pensions aimed at providing security to life, are being given to every poverty-stricken individual identifying them either as old or widow or single women or beedi worker or handloom worker or old aged artist or filarial affected or aids patient or to that matter every one below poverty line.
This particular scheme, the benefits of which reach the poorest of the poor directly, without any interference of middlemen, is the one that gives me immense happiness and satisfaction. The pension amount that was enhanced from Rs 200 to Rs 1000 immediately after formation of Telangana is now enhanced to Rs 2016. The pension amount of differently abled persons is enhanced from Rs 1500 to Rs 3016.
The upper age limit for old-age pension is reduced from 65 years to 57 and thereby, another 6-7 lakhs persons would be additionally covered under the scheme. I am happy to announce that the enhanced pensions will be paid from July 1, 2019. The assurance of
security of life to the poor gives immense satisfaction to the Government,” he said.
Similarly, he said Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes, that provide Rs. 100,116 to poor families for the marriage of their daughters benefitted lakhs of families. “In order to provide a residence, a dwelling of self-respect to the weaker sections of the society, the two-bed room house construction is in progress.
The fine rice food being provided to students of schools and hostels denotes the human angle of our governance. Arogya Lakshmi Scheme aimed at providing nutritious food to pregnant women and KCR Kits Scheme to encourage institutional deliveries are like fresh definitions of women welfare,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that the Mission Kakatiya aimed at rejuvenation of damaged and debris chain of tanks, not only yielded exceptional results but also received international acclamations as a role model of development.
KCR also made a mention of schemes like distribution of sheep, assistance to handloom and power loom workers, distribution of Batukamma Sarees, payment of remuneration of Rs. 5,000 to Imams and Mauzans in the Masjids, constructions of community centres for various castes and Kanti Velugu which helped the society in general.
“With an objective of providing education with international standards to oppressed and vulnerable classes 608 new residential schools were established in the state. The students coming out of these residential institutions have been bringing name and fame to our state at international levels. The performance of government hospitals is improved resulting in infusing confidence on public health system.
The bed strength in the hospitals from district level to constituency level was increased. Required facilities and equipment for diagnostic tests and emergency treatment were provided. Dialysis centres were established across the state after the formation of the state,” he said.
For making optimum utilization of River Krishna water, the construction of Palamoor-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme project has been in progress, with which, Mahbubnagar, Wanaparti, Gadwal, Nagarkurnool, Narayan pet, Rangareddy, Vikarabad districts as well as Munugod and Devarakonda areas of Nalgonda district will become fertile. Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, which is under construction on River Godavari, will change the face of Telangana, he said.
“Kaleshwaram is going to create history in the world, as the largest lift irrigation project built in the fastest mode. Constructing such a large project in such a short period of two and half years is a proof our government’s efficiency and technological excellence. Very recently the wet run conducted with heavy motors near a pumphouse forming part of Kaleshwaram project was a grand success.
From next month end, government is making preparations to lift two TMCs of Godavari Water per day from Medigadda barrage. Preparations are also afoot to lift three TMCs of water from there for which the construction activity is in progress.
The Kaleshwaram Project which would be able to supply sufficient irrigated water to grow two crops a year in 45 lakhs of acres in Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Peddapally, Karimnagar, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Jangaon, Mahaboobabad, Siricilla, Siddipet, Medak, Sangareddy, Jagityal, Medchal, Yadadri Bhongir and Suryapet districts, will be a God-given reward for Telangana. To demonstrate
the engineering excellence of lifting water from 90 meters above sea level to 618 meters, the irrigation department is well prepared. I am happy to announce that, the day is not far off for the well living of Telangana farmer, when the River Godavari water flowing through tunnels reaches the fields,” he said.
The Sitarama Lift Irrigation project works aimed at providing water in abundance to the entire Khammam and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts and part of the Mahaboobabad district, are in progress on war footing. The capacity od Devadula project is further increased and the construction is in progress.
This would fulfil the irrigation needs in toto of Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Warangal Urban, Warangal Rural, Jangaon, Mahaboobabad and Suryapet districts.
“The investment support scheme for agriculture, the Rythu Bandhu, meant for providing financial assistance to farmer towards crop investment enthused the hearts of the farmer. We were able to prevent the farmer suffering from debts for agriculture investment by giving Rs 4000 per acre per crop totalling Rs 8000. This scheme attracted the attention of whole world.
In addition to several state governments even to the union government the scheme became a role model. For the Kisan Samman Yojana Scheme introduced by union government the inspiration came from our Rythu Bandhu. The Unite Nations praised Rythu Bandhu Scheme as one of the great schemes in the world.
I am announcing the happy news to the farming community that the amount given under Rythu Bandhu will be enhanced from Rs 8000 per acre to Rs 10000 per acre from this year,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that the Rythu Bhima Scheme, that provides Rs. 5 lakh insurance to the family in case of death of a farmer, has removed the hopelessness feeling in the farmer and by created fresh enthusiasm in them. “The government schemes prevented suicides and raised fresh hopes in the lives of farmer as well as confidence in their future,” he said.
“Government initiated drafting a comprehensive policy formulation to ensure support price to the crop. Crop colonies will be created to avoid the danger of not getting support price due to raising similar crop by all the farmer resulting in lesser demand. Reforms will be taken up to see that different crops are grown in different lands depending upon the soil strength and conditions as well as the climatic conditions followed by moving the crops to market in a regulated manner.
The government has decided to establish food processing units across the state and thereby see that the farmer gets support price for his produce. We are making the role of Rythu Samanvaya Samithis more active right from ploughing to seeding to marketing the crop for support price,” he said.
“Panchayati Raj institutions which were once functioned with movement spirit have now become a residue. Unless and until we revive and rejuvenate the local bodies our dreams will not become a reality. That is the reason why the government after redefining the functioning of local bodies enacted the new Panchayati Raj Act.
Under the light of this Act, while entrusting precise responsibilities and duties to the Panchayati Raj institutions, the required funds are being provided by the government from time to time. The central finance commission allocated Rs 1229 crores to the rural local bodies in Telangana. The state as a matching grant will provide another Rs 1229 crores to these institutions.
I am happy to mention that even a small village panchayat with just 500 population will get Rs 8 lakhs as development funds every year. In addition to these, the funds under the National Rural Employment guarantee scheme will also be available to the local bodies. In future, with all this, there will be no dearth of funds for village panchayats,” he said.
In the framework of new Panchayati Raj Act, he said there would not be any scope for corruption. It’s obligatory on the part of peoples’ representatives and officers of Panchayati Raj institutions to take care of village sanitation and developing greenery.
The Act will not tolerate those who fail to discharge their duties and responsibilities. They will be subjected to severe punishment besides removal from their posts. It is the intention of government, that, by stringently implementing the Act, the villages are to be converted as shining signs of hygiene, cleanliness and greenery. Every village panchayat on its own and by itself and also the people of the village shall get ready to achieve this goal.
The Chief Minister also announced that the government was contemplating enacting the new municipal Act with an objective of ushering constancy in governance and ensuring accountability. The Act stipulates in it stringent regulations to ensure that cities and towns are not expanded haphazardly and irrationally. The regulations among others will include severe measures that do not give any scope for loopholes and corruption what so ever it may be.
He said that the government has decided to have a relook in to the revenue act and review it thoroughly. “The government is engaged and involved in formulating the new revenue act to ensure that the problems and difficulties of farmers are removed as far as the sales and purchases, mutation process, registrations and provision of hereditary rights are concerned.
The government hopes and seeks an extensive participation of people in implementation of this act and invites them for the same. Any reform that is done with common effort of government and people will become a reality and be successful,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that there was a need for power of determination and emphasis on coordination. “Towards this goal let us all march forward together hand in hand and with renewed resolve. Let us establish highest standards in putting an end to corruption and in transparent administration,” he said. (INN)