Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) would continue its operations to ensure the future of Hyderabad.
Telangana was liberated from the shackles of Nizam on September 17, 1948, and merged with India. The government organised People Governance Day on Tuesday to remember that day, he said.
During his speech at the Public Gardens, the CM said that earlier Hyderabad was called a city of lakes but now it has turned into a flood city because of the BRS rule in the last 10 years.
That’s why the Congress government constituted HYDRAA. “HYDRAA has been set up to demolish encroachments in lakes and other water bodies. Future generations will have to pay a heavy price if lakes, ponds and canals are not protected,” he said.
“Telangana’s economy has been ruined with a debt of Rs 7 lakh crore in the last 10 years.
We took over the reins in difficult conditions. We have been paying Rs 6000 crore to clear debts and as interest on loans every month. We have taken it as a challenge to implement the Six Guarantees and put the economy on the right track. We are trying hard to get Central funds,” the CM said.
“I went to New Delhi many times and met all Union Ministers and the Prime Minister and submitted memoranda,” the CM said.
“Some political parties are criticising my Delhi tours. I am not a farmhouse Chief Minister. I am a Chief Minister who works hard. I am not going to Delhi for personal business,” the CM said.
The CM said the state government made strong arguments before the 16th Finance Commission for more funds and demanded that 50 per cent of Central taxes should be given to the states.
He said that despite facing numerous financial challenges, the Congress government is rewriting its record in implementing welfare schemes.
The BRS government failed to waive farm loans of even Rs one lakh. “The Congress government waived farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh at one go. There are some difficulties. We will resolve those issues and ensure that the loans of all those eligible are waived,” he said.
“Is there any other state in the country that has deposited Rs 18,000 crore in the bank accounts of 22 lakh farmers within six months? That is our commitment towards farmers,” he said.
Speaking about welfare schemes, the CM said that women have benefited from the free bus travel scheme saving Rs 2,958 crore.
“We launched the free bus travel scheme for women within 48 hours of coming to power. The Rajiv Arogyasri scheme limit was increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. An additional 163 medical procedures have been included in the Arogyasri list. The government decided to provide Arogyasri benefits regardless of ration card,” he said.
The CM said that around 43 lakh families have benefited from the subsidized cooking gas cylinder. The government has already paid Rs 282 crore for this scheme. The poor are provided free power up to 200 units. 49 lakh families have already benefited from the scheme. The government has plans to build 4,50,000 houses this year as part of the Indiramma Housing Scheme. The government will provide Rs 5 lakh for every house under the scheme. Plots will also be given to those who do not own land for constructing houses, he said.
He said the government decided to give Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to the families of workers who die abroad. Free education will be provided to the children of Gulf workers in Gurukul institutions and priority will be given to them for admissions. The government is setting up a ‘Pravasi Prajavani Kendra’ in Praja Bhavan as part of Prajavani to address the grievances of Gulf workers, he said.
The CM said that September 17 is the most important day in the history of Telangana. Some are calling it Merger Day and some Liberation Day. We have decided to observe September 17 as ‘Praja Palana Dinotsavam,’ he said.
He said that Telangana is like the clenched fist which symbolises fighting. In a fist, all five fingers are tightly pressed into the palm. It indicates that all castes and religions are united in Telangana. It is unforgivable that some people are trying to use September 17 to wreck unity, the CM said.
