Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao today announced sops of Rs 150 crore for the Nagarjuna Sagar constituency and 15 irrigation projects for Nalgonda district. He also said that the Dalit Bandhu scheme would be implemented in the district soon.
The CM addressed a meeting at Halia near Nagarjuna Sagar along with Power Minister G Jagadish Reddy, Telangana Legislative Council Chairman G Sukender Reddy, MLA Nomula Bhagath, and other local leaders.
Speaking on the occasion about the ongoing water feud between the two Telugu states, Rao alleged that the Centre was "against Telangana's interests" and that neighbouring Andhra Pradesh was "trying to gain the upper hand" in the Krishna water river issue.
He strongly asserted that despite the hurdles posed by the Centre and the AP government, the TRS regime would "fight" for Telangana's "right to water" as the regime was "committed to developing the state and its irrigation infrastructure". As part of this effort, he revealed, 15 irrigation projects had been sanctioned for Nalgonda which would be completed within one-and-a-half years.
Expressing his gratitude to the people of Nagarjuna Sagar for supporting the TRS, he stated, "We are grateful that the people supported our party's candidate, Nomula Bhagath, in the
recent by-election. I would like to assure them that we will continue to develop Nalgonda and work for the welfare of its residents."
The CM then announced more sops for hospitals, roads, community halls and basic amenities in the district. He directed local officials to take steps to regularise the properties of those living on irrigation lands and in the Nandikonda municipal quarters, and to construct a Banjara bhavan for the Banjara community in the region.
Further, KCR revealed that development funds of Rs 15 crore each would be given to the Halia and Nandikonda municipalities, and sought the support and blessings of the people for the development of the state. He also sanctioned a degree college and a mini stadium for the district.
Commenting on the state of the health facilities in the region, the TRS supremo said, "Healthcare amenities are not adequate here. This will be rectified soon. Congress leader K Jana Reddy had ridiculed me in the Assembly when had I promised that our government would provide uninterrupted power to the people within two years. However, I was able to prove him wrong. It was Jana Reddy who failed to keep his promise of supporting the TRS. Our government will continue to fulfil its promises in the same way in the future as well, and will develop the state in a consistent manner."
"We will work out a plan to implement the Dalit Bandhu scheme, on which Rs 1 lakh crore will be spent, and will ensure that 100 families in each segment get aid of Rs 10 lakh each. This scheme has been taken up for the empowerment of the SCs. The Cabinet has decided to implement the scheme as this will help about 12 lakh eligible Dalit families in our state," he added.
KCR also took the opportunity to censure the Opposition for its "mud-slinging campaign" against the state government and for expressing doubts about the Dalit Bandhu scheme.
This visit of the CM assumes special significance as it signifies the leader's commitment to keeping his word - although he had promised to visit the constituency within a fortnight of the April by-election, which the TRS had won by a considerable margin, he was unable to do so due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and the political instability and turmoil that followed former minister Etala Rajender's dismissal from the Cabinet.
Now, with the Huzurabad by-election fast approaching, the Opposition has been having a field day pointing out how KCR has "broken" the promise made to the people of Nagarjuna Sagar. Leaders of the Opposition have even been cautioning the residents of Huzurabad that their constituency too will receive the same treatment from the state government. The sudden visit, then, may have been a way to counter the criticisms of the Opposition.