As many as 30 MLAs belonging to different political parties raised various issues of public interest during Zero Hour in the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
BJP MLA G Kishan Reddy raised the issue of the payment of the 43% fitment allowance to the state government employees. He said that there was no clarity on the GOs issued by the state government on Wednesday on the mode of payment. Stating that instead of depositing the amounts in GPF accounts, the amounts should be paid in cash in view of the upcoming Ugadi festival.
Responding to the demand, Panchayat Raj Minister K Taraka Rama Rao assured that the government would take suitable action in this regard. However, the BJP MLAs insisted that the government give a specific assurance, and rushed to the podium pressing for their demand. The MLAs of the Left parties too supported the BJP on this. They ended their protests after KTR assured them that the issue would be referred to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and Finance Minister Etela Rajender.
MIM MLA Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri raised the issue of the attack on the woman MRO of the Bahadurpura mandal by some anti-social elements. He demanded stern action against the assailants under the PD Act.
TRS MLA Hanumanth Shinde demanded that the state government provide better facilities to the devotees who would visit the famous Hanuman Temple in Mirzapur of the Madnoor mandal on the occasion of Ugadi.
Congress MLA Dr J Geetha Reddy raised the issue of the problems being faced by the employees of the Soudekar Beedi Factory. She alleged that the factory management was not taking proper care of the 25,000 employees, and was resorting to unethical practices to deny them benefits like PF, gratuity, etc. She said that several cases were pending against the company in the labour court and other departments. She demanded stern action against the factory management.
BJP MLA N V S S Prabhakar pointed out the threat being faced by the people, especially pregnant women and children, due to radiation from cell towers in the city. He said that several cell towers were located close to electric sub-stations. He urged the government to take all possible measures to protect the people from the radiation from the cell towers.
BJP legislator T Raja Singh alleged that the betting mafia was active in the city in view of the ongoing cricket World Cup. Stating that many youth were being lured into betting, he demanded stern action against the mafia under the PD Act.
Congress MLA P Ajay Kumar requested the State Government to set up para-medical boards in all districts to train and certify rural medical practitioners. He said that many rural youth were trained and certified as RMPs during the previous Congress regime, and they were quite helpful in areas which were not covered by the 104 and 108 emergency services.
Another Congress MLA, Chinta Prabhakar, demanded the extension of the ORR to Sangareddy in view of rising road accidents. He said that the Sangareddy road was not capable of handling traffic of heavy vehicles, and therefore the ORR should be extended to Sangareddy. (INN)