Government eyes food security for 72 pc of people: Uttam

Suryapet: Irrigation and civil supplies minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday said the government has targeted to provide food security to 72 per cent of people in the state. Along with agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, he attended the swearing-in ceremony of the members of the agricultural market committee of Kodad.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said over 40 lakh ration cards would be issued to selected families in the state. The applications received through Grama Sabhas, Praja Vani and Praja Palana would be taken into consideration while issuing new ration cards. The process of new ration cards would continue until the last eligible family is covered in the state, he added.

He said rice of fine paddy verities would be supplied to ration card holders after completion of issuance of the new ration cards. He accused the earlier BRS government of not issuing new ration cards during its 10-year rule. The BRS government also diluted the housing scheme in the name of double bedroom houses. He said lift irrigations schemes and irrigation canals would be taken up where ever they are required.

He said that the Godavari water would be brought to Mothe mandal in the district to solve irrigation problem. Rs 18 crore has been sanctioned by the state government for revival of Kodad depot of TGSRTC. He also pledged to work for railway lines passing through Kodad.

He said that Indiramma houses would be sanctioned to all eligible homeless families in the state. He reminded that Telangana had created a record by producing 155 lakh metric tons of paddy in the monsoon crop season.

Agriculture minister Tumala Nageswara Rao said that the state government conducts Grama Sabhas to ensure transparency in selection of beneficiaries for the four new welfare schemes. He said that Rythu Bharosa and Indiramma Atmeeya Bharosa would benefit lakhs of farmers and landless agricultural labour in the state.