Congress Fulfilling People’s Aspirations: Ponguleti

Nalgonda: Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Thursday said the Congress government had lived up to the expectations of the people of Telangana by fulfilling its promises and implementing welfare and development programmes across the state.

Laying the foundation stone for the Eshwara Madharam-Bhadra Thanda BT road, being constructed at a cost of Rs 1.76 crore in Kusumanchi mandal of Khammam district, the minister said the government was ensuring that the benefits of welfare schemes and development reached every household.

He said the government's performance had earned the confidence of the people, which was reflected in the Congress party's electoral victories since coming to power in 2023.

Criticising the previous BRS government, Ponguleti alleged that it had kept the housing programme in cold storage during its decade-long rule. He claimed the double-bedroom housing scheme had failed to meet the expectations of the poor.

The minister said the Congress government had revived the Indiramma Housing Scheme and sanctioned eight lakh houses, including 4.5 lakh in the first phase, 2.5 lakh in the second phase and one lakh in Hyderabad.

Listing the government's welfare initiatives, he said free electricity for domestic consumers using up to 200 units and free travel for women in TGSRTC buses had reduced the financial burden on poor families.

Speaking after launching the distribution of three months' ration to beneficiaries at Eshwara Madharam, he said the government had accorded top priority to food security and was issuing new ration cards to eligible families. He added that Telangana was the only state supplying fine rice to ration card holders.

Ponguleti said the government was committed to improving farmers' welfare. He noted that Rs 6,000 per acre under Rythu Bharosa had recently been credited to farmers' bank accounts and that paddy was being procured at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) through procurement centres. An additional Rs 500 per quintal was also being provided for fine varieties of paddy.

He assured farmers that pending land-related issues would be resolved within the next few months.

Later, the minister interacted with farmers and ploughed an agricultural field using a bullock-drawn plough at Lingram Thanda in Kusumanchi mandal.