Telangana Govt to Spend Rs 12k Cr on Roads in Rural Areas: Govt

Hyderabad: The state government informed the Assembly that it will spend Rs 12,000 crore to lay 11,000 km of roads in rural areas. Of the 12,941 gram panchayats in the state, 334 remain unconnected with proper roads and the government said it will lay BT roads at gram panchayats, residential colonies and habitations.

In written answers, the government informed that there are 1,913 schools with zero enrolment in the state of which 1,831 are primary and 49 secondary schools. Denying any plans for their closure it said it is asking mandal education officers to attract students. It said they won’t be merged and added that 612 students have been admitted to 79 government schools for the academic year 2024-25. BRS leader Sabitha Reddy addressing the media outside the assembly was upset that the question was not taken in the house and contended that the government feared a discussion on the issue as around 4,000 schools have only 10 students and they could be closed.

On pollution concerns at Mudireddy Pally tank caused by Aurobindo Pharma Company in Polepally SEZ, the minister for industries D. Sridhar Babu informed that a joint committee constituted by the NGT (National Green Tribunal) in 2019 and committee of professors in 2023 had found that the norms have been complied with.

Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha agreed to discontinue the practice of the detention system in this academic year at Osmania University. This will benefit 330 students of the 2,535 students, who have appeared in the varsity, who have been detained. Earlier posing a question on the issue AIMIM’s Akbaruddin Owaisi sought parity in rules between varsities like Osmania and JNTU with regard to detention, credits for semester exams, advanced supplementary exams and readmission of students among others. He sought inspection of autonomous colleges.

The government has identified 35 locations to establish TGIIC parks over an area of 13,741 acres after due diligence. Of this, 2,338 acres are government land, 7,638 acres is assigned land and 3,765 acres is patta land will be acquired. Minister Sridhar Babu informed a committee formed in the month of October will give a report in February next year and assured that unused lands will be taken back.

The government informed that an IVF (In vitro fertilization) centre was inaugurated in Gandhi Hospital on October 10; another in Petlaburj on December 9 while the one in MGM Warangal will be made functional shortly.

The government also clarified that it has no plans to regularize sanitary workers in municipalities on a contract basis, and denied any plans to raise their salaries.