BJP Blames TRS For Not Using Drought Relief Funds

Union Minister For Labour And Employment Bandaru Dattatreya today promised that the government would extend all necessary help to the drought relief works in the affected districts of Telangana.

Speaking to the media, the minister said that the NDA government had already sanctioned Rs. 318 crores to the Telangana government for drought relief, but that the state government had not yet spent the amount.

Dattatreya added that the Centre had also released Rs. 792 crores as input subsidy for Telangana.

Commenting on the situation, the minister said that he had visited three villages in the districts of Khammam, Medak and Karimnagar where severe drought prevailed, and was concerned over the condition of the farmers of these villages. The situation was so alarming that there was a scarcity of drinking water and no fodder for the cattle, he said.

"The Union government is contemplating hiking the monthly wages of the contract labourers to Rs. 10,000. We have sent recommendations to the law minister to consider the proposal," the minister said.