I Fruits of development should reach everyone.
“Although India has achieved significant progress in the last 75 years we have not yet fulfilled the hopes of our people. India is blessed with abundant natural resources and hardworking people. But the resources are not being used effectively due to the incompetence of rulers. In spite of having everything people are facing hardships. Dalits, adivasis, minorities and other weaker sections are still languishing in poverty,” Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said.
KCR said that since the government is aware of the needs and aspirations of the people, it introduced reforms in all sectors. Telangana achieved wonderful results within a short period. Telangana is now at the top in many fields. With a visionary perspective, and transparent policies, the government brought a new era in development. It is a proud moment that Telangana reached the stage of ‘Telangana Practices – Nation Follows’ in just a decade, he said.
The Chief Minister said that today, Telangana has continuous electricity supply. Crop yield is high with adequate irrigation. Water bodies are brimming with water even during summer.
Streams and check dams are overflowing. The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation scheme is providing abundant Godavari water through canals and reservoirs. With a yield of three crore tonnes of paddy, today Telangana is the main source of rice in the country. Everyone is astonished at Telangana’s unprecedented progress, he said.
“I request the people of Telangana to extend their full support so that this progress continues. There are two dominant indicators used to measure the progress of a country or a state and they are per capita income and per capita electricity consumption.
Telangana is ranked number one in the country in both. After the formation of Telangana, the government strengthened the state’s financial condition with discipline. Wealth has increased and was distributed to the people. The new state of Telangana has surpassed big states in the country with a per capita income of Rs 3,12,398, he said.
Giving details about the state’s development, KCR said the per capita electricity consumption in TS exceeded the national average of 1,255 units. With an average consumption of 2,126 units, which is 70 per cent higher than the national average, Telangana has become No: 1 in the country in per capita electricity consumption.
He said that Telangana is an inspiring success story in the power sector. In no time, Telangana has emerged as the only state which provides 24-hour free quality electricity to farmers. The revolutionary development in the field of electricity impacted all other sectors. Uninterrupted power supply served as the driving force for the state to move on the path of progress, he said.
He said that the state had heavy rains last month. The government has been predicting heavy rains from time to time and taking precautionary measures. Well-trained personnel, NDRF teams and IAF helicopters were pressed into service to rescue people. Relief camps helped the victims. The government released Rs 500 crore for immediate relief. The government took action to prevent the loss of life and property.
He said that the government provided financial support to the families of those who died in the heavy rains. The Government extended assistance to people living in damaged houses under the Griha Lakshmi Scheme. Enumeration of crop damage is underway, he said.
He said that the heavy rains helped to bridge the rain deficit reported in June and July. All the in the state are brimming and paddy cultivation is expected to increase to a record 64,54,000 acres.
“We are making arrangements to supply seeds and fertilizers so that farmers whose crops have been damaged can sow again. I would like to inform the victims that the government will stand by them,” he said.
He said that Telangana is a role model for the country in ensuring the welfare of farmers. The BRS government has taken various measures to rescue Telangana from the agricultural crisis in united Andhra Pradesh. Immediately after the formation of Telangana, the loans of farmers were waived. After coming to power a second time, the government waived crop loans again. A total of Rs 37,000 crore worth of crop loans have been waived in two phases in the last nine and a half years.
“I am proud to announce that there is no other government in the country which has made farmers debt free like this. The Government of Telangana has created a golden era in irrigation through Mission Kakatiya, the completion of all pending projects, the construction of large lift irrigation projects like the Kaleshwaram project, the construction of medium and small projects, and the linking of ponds with the projects.
With welfare measures like 24-hour free electricity, timely supply of fertilizers and seeds, Rythu Bhandu, Rythu Bhima, crop loan waiver etc., the government stabilised the agriculture sector and unveiled an unprecedented era in the history of agriculture of India. Under BRS rule, the farming sector witnessed substantial development,” he said.
KCR said that TS paddy yield touched three crore tonnes. Telangana, which was ranked 15 in paddy production in United AP, is now competing with Punjab for the top slot in the country. When Telangana is achieving such a high level of development, some people are criticising without any knowledge about farmers’ welfare, he said.
He said that some people are saying that three hours of electricity supply is enough for farmers. I believe that people will respond appropriately to this, the CM said.
The Government started construction of the Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Project to solve the problems of farmers in Ranga Reddy district along with Palamuru which suffered terrible hardships in the United Andhra Pradesh. Palamuru is known for the migration of people for livelihood’s sake.
He said that opposition leaders exposed themselves by filing cases in Green Tribunals to halt the project which provides irrigation to 12 lakh acres and provides drinking water to 1,200 villages. They are ready to exploit the people of Palamuru and Ranga Reddy districts for petty politics. The efforts of the BRS government and its hope that justice will prevail paid off. The cases filed by the opposition were struck down, the CM said.
“I am happy to inform you that environmental clearances have been obtained for the Palamuru Ranga Reddy lifts. The government is starting the construction of irrigation canals as soon as the major obstacle to the project is removed. I promise that the BRS government will complete the project soon and make Palamuru and Ranga Reddy districts green with crops. I have asked to start pumping water to reservoirs for drinking water needs in the next few days,” he said.
KCR also detailed the distribution of Podu Land Pattas, double bedroom houses, the Grihalakshmi Scheme, safe drinking water supply, welfare benefits for all sections from Dalits to Brahmins, sops for weavers, enhanced pension for the differently abled, the merger of TSRTC with the government, progress in the medical field, full support to orphans, PRC for government employees, pay scale to VRAs, regularisation of panchayat secretaries, metro rail services to all four corners of Hyderabad, Pattana Pragathi–Palle Pragathi, development in education, and governance at people’s doorsteps. KCR said that Telangana is now a topper in IT and industry too.
