PNS|Hyderabad
Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday said that the state had achieved a record in paddy procurement under the Congress Government.
Telangana procured the largest quantity of paddy in its 11-year history this year, and has surpassed the quantity procured in United Andhra Pradesh, he said.
Speaking at a review meeting of the erstwhile Nalgonda district at the Suryapet Collector’s office on paddy procurement, agriculture, Indiramma houses, and Bhu Bharathi, Uttam said that during the last Kharif, farmers cultivated paddy on 46.7 lakh acres and produced a record 103.5 lakh tonnes of paddy.
During the ongoing Yasangi season, cultivation has increased to nearly 60 lakh acres, and the expected yield is 130 lakh tonnes.
“No government in the past has achieved such large-scale procurement,” he declared, adding that the Congress Government is ensuring that every single grain from every farmer is procured.
Turning to the Public Distribution System (PDS), Uttam said the government is determined to strengthen food security by providing ration cards to all eligible families in Telangana, whether below or above the poverty line.
He criticised the BRS government for halting the process of issuing ration cards for nearly a decade, leaving many deserving families without access to subsidised food grains. “We are committed to rectifying this injustice and ensuring that no family is left behind,” he said.
He said that every beneficiary under the Congress Government now receives six kg of rice free of cost. “We purchase rice at ?40 per kg from the open market and distribute it free,” he said.
He said the government had already spent ?10,665 crore to provide quality rice to 2.81 crore people. “This is a historic move to ensure that no one goes hungry in Telangana,” he said.
Uttam said the BRS government had distributed substandard ‘Doddu Biyyam’ (coarse rice), which forced people to compromise on quality. “After we came to power, we distributed fine rice, bringing relief to families,” he said.
He condemned the leakages in the PDS under the BRS administration, where 10–30% of rice was being diverted, depriving many deserving families. “We have plugged these leaks and ensured that six kg of rice reaches every beneficiary,” he asserted.
Shifting focus to irrigation, Uttam issued a strong directive to officials to complete land acquisition and forest clearance processes related to irrigation projects on a war footing.
He emphasised the need for coordination among irrigation officials, revenue staff, public representatives, contractors, and the media to ensure that projects are completed on time.
“If there’s any issue like position papers, forest hurdles, or any other matter, contact me directly,” he said. “Delays will not be tolerated,” he added.
He assured farmers that he would oversee the process to guarantee fair compensation for their land.
Addressing the issue of neglected irrigation projects, Uttam said the Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP) is a prime example of mismanagement.
“For 45 years, no government took up de-silting or de-sedimentation of SRSP, leaving it heavily silted and unable to store water properly,” he said.
He announced that the Congress Government had launched a comprehensive de-silting and de-sedimentation programme in all major irrigation projects, including SRSP and Nagarjuna Sagar, to restore their storage capacity.
He said the BRS government had completely destroyed the irrigation sector, leaving the department in disarray.
“The Congress Government is now working hard to clean up the massive mess left behind by the BRS. We have already recruited 1,100 engineers in the irrigation sector to strengthen the workforce and streamline the functioning of all related departments,” he said.
Uttam also criticised the BRS government’s handling of the Kaleshwaram Project.
“The Congress government had conceptualised the Dr BR Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella Project, which could have been completed for just ?38,000 crore,” he said.
“However, the BRS government hiked the outlay to over ?1 lakh crore, spent the money, and left us with a project that failed,” he said. “They mortgaged not just us but also our future generations,” he added.
