CM to launch scheme on March 30
Suryapet: Minister for irrigation and civil supplies, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, announced on Sunday a transformative initiative to enhance food security in Telangana by supplying fine rice to ration card holders through the Public Distribution System (PDS). The Congress government, he said, is set to replace the low-quality, coerced rice — which 80 to 90 per cent of beneficiaries have been rejecting and subsequently selling — with premium quality rice purchased at Rs 40 per kg and distributed free of cost.
Recalling that the Congress-led UPA government introduced the National Food Security Act in 2013, which provides for six kg of rice per person to families under the Act, the minister highlighted that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will launch the fine rice distribution from Huzurnagar on March 30. He projected that about 84 per cent of the state’s population will benefit from the scheme, a significant step forward for food security affecting 3.2 crore people.
In a pointed critique of the previous BRS government, Uttam Kumar Reddy accused it of neglecting Telangana's water rights, particularly in relation to Krishna river allocations and the Pothireddypadu project. He added that while the government of Andhra Pradesh advanced its water-drawing infrastructure, Telangana's interests were sidelined. The minister also noted that the Nagarjunasagar Project will soon be replenished as hydel power generation resumes at the Srisailam Left Bank Hydro-Electric Station, ensuring irrigation for local crops through the Left Canal and AMRP.
Addressing local political dynamics, he emphasised that coordinated efforts would once again make the erstwhile Nalgonda district a stronghold for the Congress, following their impressive performance in the 2023 elections.
Commenting on water management challenges, roads and buildings minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy criticised the previous regime for allowing the depletion of water levels at the Srisailam project due to excessive water extraction by Andhra Pradesh and for neglecting critical tunnel works at SLBC.
The ministers also inspected the Mattampally site, earmarked for a public meeting that the Chief Minister will address, underscoring the government’s commitment to proactive engagement with the public.
