Telangana Govt has overcome challenges: KCR

Hyderabad, Aug 15 (INN): Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has claimed that the Telangana Government has overcome many hurdles and challenges since the formation of new State.

Addressing the people of Telangana from historic Golconda Fort on the occasion of country's 69th Independence Day on Saturday, KCR said Telangana State faced many challenges immediately after its formation. However, one after the other, all the hurdles were cross and challenges were dealt with in an effective manner. He said his government was focused on welfare of different sections of the society. He claimed that with an annual spending of Rs. 28,000 Crore, Telangana was on top in the country in the welfare measures. Lakhs of people, including Old Age, Beedi workers and Widows, have been enjoying the benefit of pension. Schemes like scholarships, Shaadi Mubarak and Kalyana Lakshmi were launched to help the economically weaker sections, he said.

KCR said that the State Government has fulfilled the promise of waiving off crops loans. Of Rs. 17,000 crore dues, so far, Rs. 8500 crore have been cleared to the banks. He also claimed that the government has overcome the energy crisis within one year. Further, he said the target of 25,000 MW power generation would be achieved by 2018-19 at a cost of Rs. 91,500 crore. They include thermal, hydel and solar power generation.

The Chief Minister said serious efforts were being made to turn Hyderabad into a global city by launching projects worth Rs. 21,000 crore. He said 'Swachh Hyderabad' campaign was launched to make the city clean and green.

KCR claimed that the State's new industrial policy has started attracting investments and so far, 36 proposals have been cleared under TS-iPass. He said 1.50 lakh acres of land has been reseved for industrial development. He said industrialisation would improve the State's economy besides opening up new job avenues for the youth.

The Chief Minister said Rs. 20,000 crore were being spent four four-laning of roads connecting district headquarters with Hyderabad and two-laning of roads to connect all mandal with district headquarters.

Speaking about drinking water needs in Hyderabad, he said although the city's population has crossed 1.42 crore, it has only two reservoirs - Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar, which were constructed during the Nizam's regime. He announced that the State Government would construct two new reservoirs for the city with a capacity of 30 TMC of water.

Stating that the Mission Kakatiya scheme was being appreciating by all, KCR said 46,000 lakes would be restored to their original position in the next four years. He said so far, nearly 8,000 lakes in the State have been resorted. Similarly, he said that the Water Grid scheme would ensure tap water supply to each and every household in the next four years. He said that programme has received an award from HUDCO even before its launch.

The Chief Minister alleged that injustice was being done with Telangana State in distribution of Krishna and Godavari Waters. He said that the State did not get 912 TMC of Godavari and 368 TMC of Krishna water so far. These allocations remained confined on paper.

KCR also listed out other schemes and achievements of Telangana Government.

State Ministers, MPs, legislators, Leaders of Opposition K Jana Reddy and Mohammed Ali Shabbir, TPCC President N Uttam Kumar Reddy and senior officials were also present.