Chief Minister KCR must be laughing in his sleeves by the evening of September 17. He must be feeling smug and satisfied. The reason? He is happy at the stupendous success of the two Opposition rallies. One was by the BJP, which focused on September 17 and no less a person than Amit Shah was the star attraction of the largely attended programme.

The second is the anti-TRS rally organized by the Congress party in Gajwel, his constituency. This too was a well-attended rally and Revanth raved and ranted against KCR. But the rallies hogged the media space on September 17. Several media houses gave live coverage of both the events. But, instead of getting worried, KCR must be feeling happy.

Why? KCR feels happy because the anti-TRS and anti-KCR sentiment will be divided between the two competing rivals. Both the BJP and the Congress will divide the anti-TRS votes. This division will help KCR win the elections in 2023. If one of the two parties is weaker, the anti-TRS voters would consolidate behind the stronger of the two. This polarization might affect KCR’s apple car. But now that both are emerging stronger, the likelihood of anti-incumbency votes getting divided is growing.

KCR is also happy for another reason. The more the BJP talks about the liberation of Hyderabad, the more Muslim voters will turn towards the TRS. This reverse polarization is sure to help the TRS. Anti-BJP sentiment will prove beneficial to the ruling TRS in a significant way. After all, Nirmal, Adilabad, Khanapur and Bhainsa are communally sensitive and the BJP programme was held in Nirmal. This will cause reverse polarization, the TRS sources feel.

The Telangana government on Thursday unveiled its information technology policy 2021-26, aimed at doubling the IT exports to over Rs 3 lakh crore in the next five years.

During 2020-21, IT exports from the state stood at Rs 1,45,522 crore.

The new policy has also the target of taking the total number of employees in the IT sector to over 10 lakh in the next five years. The number of employees in 2020-21 stood at 6,28,615.

Over 50,000 jobs will be generated in the IT/ITeS sector in the Tier II and Tier III cities in the state establishing them as IT Hubs of the future.

Information Technology Minister K.T. Rama Rao unveiled the new policy in the presence of NASSCOM Chairperson Rekha Menon, US Consul General in Hyderabad Joel Reifman, and senior officials.

In his remarks on the occasion, Rama Rao said Telangana has seen the highest annual growth rate in IT/ITeS exports in the last 5 years in the country and has created over 2.5 lakh jobs in the sector during this period, bringing in several marquee investors.

He said that Telangana recorded a phenomenal growth in the IT/ITeS sector with at a rate of 12.98 per cent as total IT/ITeS exports stood at Rs 1,45,522 crore. Telangana’s growth rate is more than double the average national growth rate, he said.

During the next five years, the government proposed to launch several new initiatives for the development of IT/ITeS sector.

The state will set up a start-up fund worth Rs 1,300 crore and a government investment committee with a goal to support over 8,000 start-ups and making Telangana the top choice for start-ups in the country.

It will facilitate investments and create jobs in the IT, product, engineering and R&D fields to emerge as the leader in this country.

A truly contactless, paperless and presenceless government will be created with 100 per cent of government services available over web and mobile applications except in cases that mandate physical presence, like driving license tests.

The government will ensure that at least one individual in each household and Self-Help Group is digitally literate and is given access to take advantage of the digital ecosystem.

Over 12,000 Digital Telangana Centres will be set up at the Panchayat level to provide digital services to citizens even in the remote locations. Basic Artificial Intelligence training will be provided for all technology graduates to be prepared for the next wave of employment creation in the new technologies.

There will be special focus on electric vehicles, battery storage systems, consumer electronics, medical devices and automobile sectors and the state will attract over Rs 75,000 crore in investment and over 3 lakh jobs in the electronics sector.

The Telangana Emerging Technologies Corridor will be launched as a “Hub for CoEs or Technology Centres” and will be a platform for providing institutional support, thought leadership, promoting R&D and innovation in the latest trends in technology.

The policy aims at establishing Telangana as the leader in technology-based governing through the creation of the data stack, a data analysis wing and promotion of ethical usage of emerging technologies like AI, ML and Blockchain in government services.

The government will use its patented and home-grown technology solutions to support businesses, and MSMEs. A dedicated Smart Cities wing will be created in collaboration with the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department with an aim to create over 40 smart regions in the state benchmarking with the best smart cities in the world.

Rama Rao stated that Telangana is the fourth largest contributor to the country’s economy, according to the “Handbook of Statistics on the Indian Economy 2020-21” released by the RBI.

He said the state passed several milestones in the IT and electronics sectors over last five years.

The electronics sector saw over 1.5 lakh jobs being created and Telangana is now responsible for the production of 7 per cent of India’s electronics output and growing.

He said the state developed a robust innovation ecosystem consisting of T-HUB, TSIC, WE-HUB, RICH, TASK, T-WORKS, Emerging Technologies Wing, and IMAGE Center of Excellence. Over 1,500 start-ups have received support in the form of mentorship, incubations and industry connects and have raised Rs 1,800 crore in funding over the last 5 years.

We have seen reservations for Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in education and employment all these years.

But now Telangana Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Rao has come with ‘new reservations’ in Telangana for BCs, SCs and STs.

KCR has decided to give reservations to BCs, SCs and STs for setting up liquor shops in Telangana.

This decision was taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by CM KCR at Pragathi Bhavan on Thursday (today).

The cabinet decided to extend 15% reservations for BCs (Gowdas), 10% reservations for SCs and 5% reservations for STs.

Telangana government currently gives permission to run 2,216 liquor shops across the state.

The license for these shops expires in October and fresh licenses will be issued.

The new reservations will be implemented when fresh licenses will be given in November.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao said that the state government would explore the possibilities of helping Hyderabad Metro, as it was in heavy losses due to less traffic on account of the Corona pandemic.

The CM gave assurance to the L&T higher officials that the government would support Hyderabad Metro Project and help it to be back on tracks.

The L&T higher officials have made repeated requests to the government to support them as Hyderabad Metro Project had incurred heavy losses due to the Corona pandemic.

In this regard, The L&T Officials had a meeting with the CM late on Tuesday night at Pragathi Bhavan with a request that the state government should support the Hyderabad metro. The L&T officials discussed about the financial losses of the Metro, Bank loans repayment, the mounting interest’s day by day and urged the government to come to their rescue.

The CM said,” Within a short span of time Hyderabad Metro by providing safest travel services, became a popular public transport system. The Corona pandemic had adverse impact on Hyderabad Metro as it did for other sectors. For Hyderabad, which is growing day by day, metro rail services are very necessary and there is a need to expand the metro services in future. It is regrettable that Corona Pandemic situation forced Metro Rail project into financial crisis and it was made to pay compound interests. The state government would come to the rescue of the prestigious Hyderabad Metro project as it did for other sectors. He said the state government would examine the possibilities. In accordance with the public needs, the government has to take out of the box decisions during the difficult times like the Corona pandemic situation.”

The CM said measures would be taken not only to support Hyderabad Metro but also to rejuvenate it. To study the matter extensively, weigh pros and cons and arrive at a policy, the CM said a high-level committee would be formed.

In this committee, Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao, R&B Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy, Government’s Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, CM Principal Secretary S Narsing Rao, Finance Special Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao, MAUD Spl Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar, Principal Secretary (Industries) Jayesh Ranjan will be there.

The CM has instructed the Committee to submit its report shortly on how to save Hyderabad Metro from incurring losses after thoroughly studying all the aspects.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday decided to convene a preparatory meeting for the implementation of the Telangana Dalit Bandhu scheme in four mandals on a pilot basis.

The meeting will be held at Pragathi Bhavan, the official residence of the Telangana chief minister on September 13.

The chief minister recently announced that Dalit Bandhu will be implemented in four mandals — Chintakani in Madhira constituency, Tirmalgiri in Tungaturthy, Charakonda mandal in Achampet and Kalwakurty constituencies and Nizam Sagar in Jukkal constituency. This is in addition to the ongoing implementation of the scheme on a pilot basis in Huzurabad Constituency.

Ministers, zilla parishad chairpersons, collectors from the four districts of Khammam, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar and Nizamabad, legislators from Madhira, Tungaturthy, Achampet, Kalwakurty, Jukkal constituencies, SC welfare minister Sri Koppula Eswar, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, SC Development Secretary, CM Secretary Rahul Bojja, Finance Secretary will participate.

The CM said the Karimnagar district collector will attend the meeting as a special invitee and share his experiences at the ground level while implementing the scheme in Huzurabad.

The government has selected four mandals in four Assembly constituencies, which are represented by Dalit MLAs (constituencies reserved for scheduled castes) in the north, east, west and southern parts of the state.

The scheme will be implemented for all Dalit families in these mandals.

The government has taken up Dalit Bandhu as a movement. It has already released Rs 2,000 crore for implementation of the scheme for all Dalit families in Huzurabad constituency.

Under the scheme, every beneficiary Dalit family will get Rs 10 lakh as grant and they will be free to choose their profession, self-employment or businesses for utilising the funds.

Addressing a public meeting on August 16 in Huzurabad constituency to launch the scheme, the chief minister had announced that the government will disburse over Rs 2,000 crore to 21,000 Dalit families in Huzurabad in the next two months.

He had also declared that all the 17 lakh Dalit families in the state will be benefited by the scheme.

The scheme implementation across the state for all Dalit families will cost Rs 1.7 lakh crore. He said the government will allocate Rs 30,000 crore to Rs 40,000 crore in the budget every year for 3 to 4 years.

Telangana Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Rao continues to stay in Delhi even after eight days though there have been no official engagements for the past two days.

KCR left for Delhi on September 1. He laid foundation for construction of TRS office in Delhi on September 2.

Later he met, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 3 and union home minister Amit Shah on September 4.

There was no official programme on September 5. KCR met union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari and union jal shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on September 6.

KCR was not seen anywhere after September 6 though he is in Delhi.

This triggered speculations about his health condition as reports came out that KCR is undergoing health check ups at a private hospital in Delhi.

He underwent eye and dental check ups on September 7.

TRS circles say KCR visited the hospital even today (Wednesday) and undergone health check ups.

But there is no official update from TRS or Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

With this, TRS leaders and cadre are discussing his health condition.

KCR never stayed in Delhi for such a long tim earlier after he became CM in 2014. There is no clarity when he will return to Hyderabad though speculations are rife that he will return on Thursday.

Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan gave a new twist to the ongoing controversy over TRS government nominating Padi Kaushik Reddy as MLC under Governor’s quota.

The Telangana cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Rao approved nomination of Padi Kaushik Reddy as MLC under Governor’s quota on August 1 and sent it to Governor for approval on the same day.

But Governor kept her approval on hold even after more than a month. However, she has maintained complete silence on this issue since then.

The governor on Wednesday (today) broke her silence on this issue for the first time.

She said that she was not happy with the Telangana government nominating Kaushik Reddy under Governor quota under social service category.

Governor said she will examine what social service Kaushik Reddy did before giving her approval. She further said that she will take more time to take a decision on this issue.

Already one month and one week passed since Kaushik Reddy’s name was sent to Raj Bhavan for approval and Governor seeking more time to give her nod reportedly angered CM KCR, who is waiting for the right time to strike against Governor if she rejects Kaushik’s nomination.

36-year Kaushik Reddy is a cricketer who flayed first class matches for Hyderabad and later entered politics. He joined Congress and contested against then TRS candidate Etela Rajender in Huzurabad in 2018 Assembly polls and lost. However, after Etela quit TRS and joined BJP in June this year forcing bypoll in Huzurabad, Kaushik Reddy quit Congress and joined TRS in July. KCR nominated him as MLC within ten days of joining TRS.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), who is on a visit to New Delhi, on Tuesday reviewed the situation in the state in view of heavy rains.

Rao spoke to Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar over the phone to review the situation and issued directions. The Chief Minister wanted the District Collectors and the state administration to remain alert and take appropriate measures.

With rivulets and lakes overflowing due to incessant rains, Rao directed that departments be alerted to minimise the inconvenience to people in flood-affected villages and mandals.

Since continuous rains are likely to affect the electricity supply, roads, storm water drains, KCR directed the officials of departments concerned to be put on alert.

Municipal administration, panchayat raj, roads and buildings, and electricity departments were directed to alert the entire staff, from the officials to employees working at the lowest level.

The Chief Minister has instructed that since projects, lakes and tanks are overflowing due to heavy rains, steps must be taken to ensure that people living in low-lying areas do not suffer. He directed that the officials of Water Resources department be asked to remain alert.

KCR also directed the state Chief Secretary to undertake rescue and relief measures in affected areas by making alternate arrangements. He said in view of the alert by the Meteorological department, disaster management teams must be kept ready to rescue those stranded in affected areas.

The Chief Minister urged the public representatives to help the affected people in coordination with the state administration.

He appealed to the people in rain-affected areas not to come out of their houses in view of incessant rains.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday called on Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and urged him to drop 11 projects from the list of unapproved projects in Godavari basin in the notification issued by the Union ministry last month.

During his meeting with Shekhawat in New Delhi, Rao said the 11 projects mentioned as unapproved in Godavari basin as per the gazette notification dated July 15 were started before formation of Telangana and are within the 967.94 TMC share of the state.

Out of this allocation, projects for 758.76 TMC are already cleared by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and water availability has been cleared by the Hydrology Directorate for another 148.82 TMC. The balance allocation of 60.26 TMC has been kept as a reserve for future projects, evaporation losses etc, the Chief Minister said in a letter submitted to the Union Minister.

He also contended that the additional 1 TMC/day of Kaleshwaram project is not an additional nor a new project, and has only been taken up with state government funds to utilise the 240 TMC allocation made to the Kaleshwara project by the CWC, within a shorter time period, and as such, does not require any approval of the Central government.

“Kandakurthy LIS is a minor scheme serving an ayacut of 3,300 acres and does not require any appraisal. The Ramappa Pakhal Link and Tupakulagudem barrage, which are part of the Devadula Project, do not require any new approval. The Gudem LIS is a part of the approved Kaddam project, constructed to serve the tail end areas and does not need any approval. Finally Kanthanapally, which is non-existent, may also be dropped from the list of unapproved projects,” the letter added.

Rao urged Shekhawat to issue appropriate directions to the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) and the CWC for taking immediate action.