Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao unfurled the tricolour at the historic Golconda fort on Saturday and highlighted welfare and development initiatives launched by his government in the new state.
Noting that the government has allocated Rs 28,000 crore for welfare initiatives this year, he said Telangana is number one in the country in implementing welfare measures.
Stating that villages did not develop as Mahatma Gandhi wished, even several decades after independence, Rao noted his government would launch the ambitious 'Grama Jyothi' programme soon. Rs 25,000 crore would be spent in the next four years under the programme.
Referring to comments in some quarters (prior to bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh) that Telangana would face problems in the power sector, he said the government is now able to provide electricity supply without power cuts.
K Chandrasheker Rao presents awards during Independence Day celebration (Photo: PTI)
The Chief Minister announced that nine hours of power would be supplied daily to farmers from March next year.
The government has succeeded in mobilising funds to the tune of Rs 91,500 crore to make the state self-sufficient in power generation. Efforts were on to raise the installed capacity of the state to 25,000 MW by 2018-19, he added.
Criticising those who claimed to have developed Hyderabad during their rule, he said the city with a population of 1.42 crore has only two reservoirs, that too built during the Nizam period.
He announced that two new reservoirs with a capacity of 30 TMC would be built to ensure that the city does not face problems in water supply.
The government waived farm loans to the tune of Rs 17,000 crore and released the pending input subsidy of Rs 480 crore to the agri sector, he said.
K Chandrasheker Rao presents awards during Independence Day celebration (Photo: PTI)
The state government's another major programme of reviving tanks under 'Mission Kakatiya' won praise from different quarters in the country and also abroad, Rao added.
In a first of its kind initiative in the world, Rao said, clearance has been given as a right to investors by making a legislation in the Legislative Assembly.
Promising clearances in two weeks, the single-window scheme gave approvals to 36 industries so far in two phases, he added.
Alleging that Telangana suffered injustice in undivided Andhra Pradesh with its due share being denied in Godavari and Krishna waters, he said the government has taken up irrigation projects pending for long.
In a departure from the tradition (in undivided Andhra Pradesh) of organising the Independence Day event at the sprawling Parade Grounds in the city, Rao had chosen the historic Golconda fort as the venue for the function, since last year to highlight the state's rich history and heritage.
Several groups of artistes from the state in traditional attire showcased their talent at the historic fort at the event.
