Inherited Debt Burden of Rs 8.21 Lakh cr from BRS: Revanth

In his Independence Day address at the historic Golconda Fort on Friday, after unfurling the national flag, Revanth Reddy highlighted the achievements of his government and laid out his vision for Telangana’s future.

He reaffirmed his commitment to the state’s development, vowing not to compromise on Telangana’s interests, especially regarding water-sharing rights from the Godavari and Krishna rivers. The Chief Minister also urged the Centre to clear two bills passed by the State Legislature to provide 42 per cent reservations for BCs in local bodies, which are pending with the President.

"When we assumed office, the state was burdened with debts and dues amounting to Rs 8,21,652 crore," said Revanth Reddy. Of this, Rs 6,71,757 crore were loans, Rs 40,154 crore related to employee payments and schemes, and Rs 1,09,740 crore were dues to various departments. Despite these financial challenges, the state government has already repaid Rs 2,20,676 crore, including Rs 1,32,498 crore in principal and Rs 88,178 crore in interest.

Revanth Reddy underscored his government’s commitment to farmer welfare, education, housing, and health. He cited the farm loan waiver, under which Rs 20,616 crore in loans were waived for 25.3 lakh farmers.

The Rythu Bharosa scheme, providing investment support to farmers, has already benefited 70 lakh cultivators, with Rs 9,000 crore disbursed in just nine days since its launch. Telangana, he said, had become “the Annapurna of India,” a symbol of agricultural prosperity. He added that the Congress government had spent over Rs 1.10 lakh crore on agriculture and farmers in 20 months.

Despite the Kaleshwaram project becoming defunct, Telangana farmers achieved record paddy production due to irrigation facilities created by older projects such as Nagarjunasagar and Sriramsagar, constructed during previous Congress regimes.

On education, the Chief Minister highlighted his government’s focus on enhancing infrastructure. With an investment of Rs 39,575 crore in education since taking office, Revanth Reddy emphasised that spending on education is seen as an investment in the state’s future. “We are constructing 78 new schools, which will play a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape,” he said, adding that the Young India Residential Schools and the upcoming Sports University with international collaborations would revolutionise the sector.

Revanth Reddy also outlined his vision for Telangana’s economic future under the Telangana Rising 2047 initiative. The ambitious blueprint aims to transform Telangana into a $1 trillion economy by 2035 and a $3 trillion economy by 2047, marking the centenary of Indian Independence.

The government’s plans include major infrastructure projects such as greenfield highways, the Gandhi Sarovar project, Metro Rail Phase II, new airports in Warangal and Adilabad, and industrial corridors linking Hyderabad to cities like Nagpur, Bengaluru, and Vijayawada.

The Chief Minister reiterated the importance of the state’s water rights, stressing that the government would ensure fair access to water from the Godavari and Krishna rivers. “We will not compromise in achieving our rightful share of water,” he affirmed, adding that the state was actively working on a strategic plan to secure permanent water rights, making up for the historical neglect of previous regimes.

He also spoke about the caste census and the state’s efforts to implement Scheduled Caste sub-categorisation, ensuring equitable distribution of benefits among 59 SC sub-castes.

The Chief Minister praised the state police for maintaining law and order, which has made Telangana one of the safest states in India. He noted that Telangana’s police department had been ranked first in policing among states with populations over one crore, according to the India Justice Report 2025.

Revanth Reddy also highlighted the government’s efforts to uplift women, citing the Mahalaxmi free bus travel scheme, which has seen over 200 crore rides. This initiative, he said, has had a transformative social impact, enhancing women’s access to education and employment.

He also mentioned the distribution of fine rice under the Sanna Biyyam scheme, which feeds 3.1 crore people, and the construction of 4.5 lakh houses under the Indiramma Housing programme, benefiting marginalised communities, including the Chenchu tribals.

On healthcare, the Chief Minister announced investments of Rs 16,500 crore in the sector, including the establishment of a new Osmania Hospital complex and several new medical colleges. In line with his vision for a stronger public health system, Revanth Reddy confirmed the revival of the Aarogyasri scheme, which will now provide up to Rs 10 lakh coverage per family for medical treatment.