On one hand, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has put government lands for sale to raise funds for welfare schemes and development programmes.

Telangana government is facing severe financial crisis due to Covid since March 2020.

On the other hand, KCR is wasting public money for purchase of Kia Carnivas SUVS.

On Sunday, KCR handed over Kia Carnival SUVs to 33 additional collectors of all districts.

KCR on Sunday held a meeting with additional collectors of all districts to review on Palle Pragathi and Pattana Pragathi programmes of TRS government.

After the meeting, KCR handed over Kia SUV to each additional collector.

Each car costs over Rs 30 lakh. Nearly 10 crore was spent to purchase these cars.

KCR justified this saying that additional collectors deserve good cars to travel and to discharge their duties effectively.

While there should be no opposition to provide the cars, what is inviting criticism is wasting public money on purchasing such high-end cars in these difficult Covid times.

Several SUVS are available within Rs 15 lakh price raising questions over why the government should waste public money on such high end cars.

The Telangana government has recently decided to sell off government lands to raise funds for welfare schemes and development programmes.

The State Cabinet has approved e-auction of lands for the purpose to raise Rs 30,000 crore.

Accordingly, big advertisements were released in TRS own media today, namely Namasthe Telangana.

The HMDA has issued advertisement putting several land parcels, plots for sale.

However, officials doubt the response to land sale in these difficult Covid times when all sectors are reeling under crisis.

The booming Hyderabad real estate sector too is facing a crisis since Covid outbreak in March 2020.

When the situation started improving in New Year 2021, the outbreak of second-wave Coronavirus in March 2021 pushed real estate into further crisis.

With salary cuts and job losses since March 2020, people are in no mood to buy properties in these times. Whatever amount they had saved, they dried up due to Covid crisis. Whatever little savings they still hold. people want to set aside for emergency needs but not invest in properties till Covid situation improves.

At this critical juncture, KCR has decided to sell off government lands. But realtors see poor response to government land sale due to ‘bad timing’ now.

While this is the situation now in Hyderabad, the Telangana government has decided to sell at least 1,000 acres in each district.

This raises questions over who will invest in districts when there is not much demand in a booming city like Hyderabad.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will personally make surprise visits from next week to check the progress of Palle and Pattana Pragathi programmes (village and town progress), including the functioning of panchayati Raj and municipal officers all over the state.

Rao will also hold a review meeting with additional collectors and district panchayat raj officers (DPOs) on Sunday at pragathi bhavan on various programmes being implemented in the state.

“There is a decrease in Coronavirus cases in the state and the positivity rate has fallen to 4.7 per cent; another round of Palle and Pattana Pragathi programmes would be launched in the state,” he said in a high level review meeting of these programmes on Friday.

According to the CM, Telangana brought in new Panchayat Raj and Municipality Acts to support rural and urban areas in a big way.

Incidentally, Rs 339 crore and Rs 148 crore are being sent to the villages and municipalities development every month.

“It should be known why employees in the Panchayat Raj and Municipalities are failing to discharge their duties?” said Rao, warning that during his surprise visits if he finds any laxity on the part of the employees, he would not spare them.

Likewise, Rao instructed officials to prepare a chart for the measures to be taken to curtail seasonal diseases.

Telangana Chief Minister will undertake a state-wide tour from June 19. Though the official sources are claiming that this tour is mainly meant to take stock of the developmental works taken up under the Palle Pragathi and Pattana Pragathi schemes, the real aim is political, say those in the know.

Amid reports that several more MLAs are unhappy and might even think of backing Eatala’s rebellion, KCR reportedly feels that a state-wide tour will help in quelling the nascent revolt. Touring the districts will also help in addressing several other issues dogging the party. The groupism affecting the party in the districts also needs to be addressed. Hence KCR has decided to go on a tour of various districts.

Another key meeting with officials on Palle Pragathi and Pattana Pragathi will be held on Sunday at the Pragathi Bhavan, sources said. KCR has been allocating Rs 339 crore for the development of the gram panchayats under the Palle Pragathi scheme and Rs 148 crore for the Pattana Pragathi for the last two years. Despite the emphasis laid by him, the progress has not been satisfactory. Hence, KCR has asked the ministers, MLAs, MLCs and MPs too to get involved in these works.

Along with an inspection of these schemes, KCR is also likely to talk to various key leaders of the party to understand the situation in various districts. This will be his first state-wide tour in as many years. Sources say that his tour will help in isolating those who are planning to rebel against the government and go the Eatala way. KCR has already checkmated Eatala’s moves and this tour would further check other MLAs from playing truant.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has decided to auction government lands and buildings to raise funds for TRS government’s welfare schemes and development programmes like irrigation projects, roads etc.

The state cabinet recently approved to auction of government lands and buildings.

KCR’s decision drew a comparison with Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy’ decision to sell off government lands in the name of “Build AP” in 2020-end.

Several petitions were filed against Jagan government in the AP High Court, which subsequently halted sale of government lands in AP until further orders.

Now Opposition parties are planning to move Telangana High Court against KCR government for its decision to auction government lands and residential buildings owned by Telangana Housing Board, Rajiv Swagruha Corporation etc.

The government wants to raise Rs 50,000 crore as TS government is facing severe financial crisis due to Covid and subsequent lockdowns since March last year.

Political analysts opine that KCR would also meet the same fate of Jagan as High Court may not allow indiscriminate sale of government properties.

KCR, who rarely stirs out from his Pragathi Bhavan or Farmhouse, has gone all the way to a small village called Regunta in Jagityal district on Wednesday. Well! Officially, he went to console party MLA Balka Suman, who lost his father recently. But insiders say there is much more to KCR’s Jagityal visit than meets the eye. In fact, this is his first visit to Karimnagar after Eatala Rajender left the TRS.

Jagityal is part of the undivided Karimnagar district and undivided Karimnagar is where Eatala Rajender hails from. Though KCR met Suman, discussed covid situation with officials, the real purpose, according to political pundits, is to send feelers to TDP Telangana chief LV Ramana. The TRS is desperate to bring in Ramana with the promise of making him an MLC first and a minister later. The idea is to project a BC as a counterfoil to Eatala Rajender, who too is a BC.

KCR’s visit assumes significance as BJP’s Dubbak MLA Raghunandan Rao met LV Ramana on Wednesday and asked him to join the BJP. Quite curiously, Ramana assured to consider his request. This has clearly left the TRS rattled. If Ramana joins the BJP, it would only further strengthen the anti-BC image of the TRS, say analysts.

Hence, the TRS sent feelers to Ramana through KCR’s sudden visit to Regunta. Meanwhile Ramana is a happy man these days as he has suddenly become important and everyone is rushing to him with invites to join their party. This is interesting as only a couple of months ago, Ramana lost his security deposit in the Graduate MLC election. His party is all but dead in Telangana. Yet, he has political relevance thanks to the latest political developments.

As of now the rebellion in TRS is limited to Huzurabad in undivided Karimnagar district. But there are indications that it could spread to other areas in the state. Several leaders in TRS are watching the developments keenly and if Eatala manages to succeed, many more leaders could jump the bandwagon of rebellion.

The district that is more volatile in terms of politics is Nizamabad. There are lot of disgruntled elements in Nizamabad district. For instance senior leader Gampa Govardhan is said to be deeply unhappy at not being made a minister. KCR made him the chief whip. His supporters and followers are unhappy over this. Bodhan MLA Shakeel Amer too has eyed a minister’s post. He was offered the post of whip, which he had refused to accept. Since then, he is ticked off from KCR’s good books. During that period, he had even met BJP MP Aravind Dharmapuri sparking rumours of his joining the BJP.

Another senior MLA Bajireddy Govardhan too is said to be unhappy. It was rumoured that KCR would make him the chairman of the RTC. But, when the final announcement was made, his name was not there in the list. Bajireddy has been sulking ever since.

MLCs Rajeshwara Rao and VG Goud too are aspiring for nominated posts. For instance, Goud hoped that he would be made protem speaker after Gutta Sukhender Reddy’s term expired. But, he was , not chosen. There is some discontent in him, according to those close to Goud. Another unhappy MLA is Hanmanth Shinde of Jukkal. He too is aspiring to be a minister, but was never given the post.

Sources say that KCR will have a lot of cajoling to do in this one district. Sources say that KCR is aware of the situation in Nizamabad. This is why he is soon going to talk to key TRS leaders from this district.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao successfully usurped former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao’s legacy from Congress by announcing to celebrate year-long PV birth centenary last year and fielding PV’s daughter Surabhi Vani in the Graduate MLC election recently this year and ensure her victory against all the odds.

The year-long celebrations of PV’s birth centenary will end this month on June 28.

KCR is planning to honor PV by naming a district in Telangana after PV.

However, KCR seems to be in a dilemma over how to proceed on this issue.

KCR already increased districts in Telangana from 10 to 33. He is already facing criticism from all quarters of creating ‘too many districts’ for a small state like Telangana as some districts have become like revenue divisions with a low extent area.

There is no scope to create one more district after PV in this situation.

Even if the new one is created, it will complicate things in Telangana as it will alter the new zonal system of Telangana which was approved by President Ramnath Kovid recently for reservations to locals in education and employment. This zonal system was already amended once after KCR created two new districts in Telangana in 2018 after creating 31 districts in 2016. Due to this delay, the government could not issue a single job notification through TSPSC or another agency since 2017.

The zonal system needs to be amended again if one more district after PV is created and if that happens the recruitments will come to a halt once again till the Centre approves the new zonal system and President Kovind gives his nod. Unemployed youth are already angry at KCR for delaying notifications even after announcing to fill over 50,000 posts in December 2020 and won graduate MLC polls in March 2021 with this promise.

TRS leaders and government officials are suggesting KCR better rename an existing district after PV instead of creating a new one and delay job notifications further and unnecessarily inviting the wrath of students and unemployed.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao on Monday said that his state has not only achieved food security but has also become source of food security for the country.

He claimed that Telangana stood first in the country in food production by producing three crore tonnes of food grains.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, has greeted people on the occasion of World Food Safety Day.

Recalling the efforts put in by the state government to turn Telangana into a rice bowl in the country (“Annapurna”) from a region which faced famine and starvation as part of united Andhra Pradesh, he said within a short span of time, Telangana was able to create two crore acres fertile land which is yielding two crops.

KCR said it is a moment of pride for the state which has become number one in the paddy production by completing all major irrigation projects like Kaleswaram, and reviving and restoring tanks under Mission Kakatiya programme.

He said even during the Corona pandemic, the crops cultivated by Telangana farmers have provided food security to the country.

He claimed that measures taken by the government in supplying nutritious meat, eggs and fish to people have yielded good results. The state government is implementing sheep rearing schemes and encouraging fruits and vegetable production. With these efforts, people in the state are getting food, which is safe and secured.

KCR also stated that the government is waging a war against all the adulteration of the food items. The government is dealing sternly against the spurious seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, thereby ensuring safe food grains.

He said keeping in view the increase in diabetes, the state government has prepared Telangana Sona variety of rice and cultivation of this rice variety is encouraged all over the state.

Noting that the government has introduced several welfare schemes at a cost of Rs 45,000 crore providing welfare, food, social and life security, he said that in order to provide food security and ensure that no one goes hungry, each person is given 6 kgs of rice in every family through Food Security Card (Ration Card).

Of the total 87,41,000 ration card-holding families, 2,79,27,000 (72 per cent of the state’s population) are given 20 lakh tonnes of rice at one rupee per kg per year. For this, the state government is bearing Rs 28.24 per kg or Rs 2,088 crore subsidy. Fine quality rice is being given to the students in hostels.

Ration card portability was created so that ration cardholders can draw their ration anywhere in the state and this had provided total food security to the needy, he added.

The Telangana government will be offering free diagnostic services to poor at government-run hospitals in 19 district headquarters in the State from June 9.

These diagnostic centres can conduct 57 types of tests including some speciality and expensive tests which were hitherto conducted in corporate hospitals and three major government hospitals in Hyderabad.

The tests to be conducted at diagnostic centres include Covid tests, blood and urine tests and the tests related to diabetes, hypertension, cardiac ailments, orthopedic, liver, kidney, thyroid and x-ray.

The centres were to be launched from June 7 but this has now been postponed to June 9. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday said all the ministers should be present at the launch on the same day and same time.

The State Cabinet meeting, scheduled on June 8, will decide which minister should be present at the launch of which diagnostic centre.

The diagnostic centres have come up in Mahbubnagar, Nizamabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Jangaon, Mulugu, Mehboobabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jagtial, Siddipet, Nalgonda, Khammam, Sircilla, Vikarabad, Nirmal, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Gadwal and Asifabad districts.

KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, said the decision to set up 19 diagnostic centres at the district headquarters is a landmark one in the history of medical and health sector in the State.

“Medical treatment is becoming more and more costly for the people. The poor are forced to sell their properties to get the treatment. The cost of diagnostic tests became more than the disease. People are forced to go to private diagnostic centres for tests,” he said.

KCR said diagnostic Centres will also be set up in other places in a phased manner. He claimed that this move demonstrates the government’s commitment to public health. He asked ministers, MLAs, local body representatives to coordinate with the medical and health department officials and ensure better medical care is given in their respective constituencies to the people.

These diagnostic centres launched during the Corona pandemic time would render major help to the people and suitable name would be given to these centres, he said.

The chief minister said the government has also made arrangements to send the results of the test reports to the patients’ mobile phones.

Very expensive equipment with state-of-the-art technology is installed at the centres. These include fully Automatic Immunoassay analyzer, Five Part cell counter, fully automatic urine analyzer. Along with these, ECG, 2 D Echo, Ultra Sound, Digital X Ray and other such imaging testing units were also provided. The CM said that the officials informed him that these testing equipment work very fast and they produce 400 to 800 reports per hour.

“There are four types of expenses for the medical treatment. The transport expenditure to reach the hospital, doctor’s fee, medicines, diagnostic tests, expenses for the inpatient, if discharged transport charges to come back home and in case of death, funeral expenses. The government is bearing all these expenses and offering free services to people in the government hospitals.

For the emergency services, the government is running 428 ambulances under 108 services. As many as 300 vehicles are already in operation for pregnant women under Amma Vadi Scheme, where the pregnant mothers are transported free to the hospitals and back home after the delivery.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday said the Covid-19 pandemic has once again proved that there is no other wealth as precious as the environment.

In his message on the eve of the World Environment Day (June 5), he urged people in the state to protect environment.

He said the sordid situation of people desperately seeking pure air to save their lives could be overcome only through the protection of environment.

Rao also pointed out that his government initiated several measures and action plans to hand over a healthy environment to the future generations. He said there was ban imposed on the cheap quality of plastics usage and programmes like ‘Haritha Haram’ aimed at increasing the green cover are implemented.

The Chief Minister said several programmes were implemented to improve the quality of environment in rural and urban areas. These programmes also won acclaim at the national levels.

“Through irrigation and drinking water projects, pure water is supplied for irrigation and drinking water purposes. Through several schemes, the production of vegetables, milk, meat, and food grains was increased and people in the state are getting nutritious food,” he said.

Stating that diversion of river waters for the irrigation projects is also providing green cover and a balanced environment, he appealed to people to become partners in protecting the environment and developing Telangana as a green state.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who completed seven years as Chief Minister of Telangana State, said that he will not rest till his dream of “Bangaru Telangana” is achieved.

The CM on Tuesday greeted the Telangana people on the eve of the
seventh Telangana State formation day. KCR became first CM of Telangana State after its formation on June 2, 2014.

“With many battles, sacrifices, martyrdom, we have achieved the Telangana State in a parliamentary democratic way.,” the CM said. CM is happy, and he said that the Telangana state has excelled in all the sectors within a short span of seven years, the Telangana State laid strong foundations and offered stability.

“The Telangana state is fulfilling the demands of the Separate Telangana statehood movement one by one. Water for the irrigation and
drinking, power, medical and health, roads and all other infrastructure facilities are being provided, reaching short term and long term aims.” the CM said.

The CM said he is felt proud to announce that, the newly formed 29th Telangana state had achieved and had made rapid strides in development
and welfare sectors and became role model for the other states, country as well.

KCR said that each and every sector were being neglected under the then united AP rule, is now being corrected in self Rule, and attained
the progress. As Telangana society represents with 90 percent of SC’s, STs, BScs and Minorities, the state government has been working for
the welfare of these deprived sections. devolopement is the part of commitment and dedication of the government, to fullfill the
aspirations of Telangana people, and to pay rich tributes to the martyrs.

The Telangana state government had been successful in reviving and revitalizing TS agri sector by constructing irrigation projects and
stabilizing farm sector. The Telangana state government is also was successful in strengthening the rural economy. KCR said people in
Telangana, made the contribution to all the success and he thanked them for the same.

Though there is a great economic loss incurred by the Corona pandemic, with the people’s support the state is marching forward. The faith and confidence reposed in him by the people; the CM said is a rock of support to him. He said he would not rest till with the people’s
support to make the Telangana State a Bangari Telangana’ a golden State. The CM congratulated people in the State on this occasion.

The State Cabinet met here on Sunday at Pragathi Bhavan under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. The meeting was held at length, discussed in detail about several issues and took the decisions.

The State Cabinet has decided to extend the on-going lockdown for another ten days from May 31. As part of this, the Cabinet decided that relaxation period should be given from 6 AM to 1 PM. For those goes out during the relaxation period to come back homes, one-hour grace period till 2 PM is given. From 2 PM to 6 AM the next morning, lock down would be implemented strictly, the Cabinet decided.

In the back drop of Lockdown extension, relaxation hours and Covid, the cabinet has decided to allow registration of lands, properties under the Stamps and Registration department and vehicles registration under the Transport Department should be allowed during the working days.

The State Cabinet has discussed about the Covid situation in the State. It has reviewed the spread of the virus, treatment given to the victims and the measures taken by the Medical and Health department officials to contain the spread of the virus. The Medical and Health department officials informed the Cabinet that the Corona is gradually decreasing in the State. The Cabinet has instructed that the State Health secretary along with the Medical and Health officials should visit places like Madhira, Satthupalli, Alampur, Gadwal, Narayanpet, Maktal, Nagarjuna Sagar, Kodad, Huzurabad where Corona spread is more and are on the state Borders to review the situation and take the necessary measures.
The State cabinet also instructed the officials concerned to be alert following the reports that there is a possibility of a third wave and prepare proper action plans. The Cabinet also instructed the Medical and Health Department to review prevailing situation in all the Area, District and other hospitals and take measures for the infrastructure and facilities needed there.

The Cabinet approved the decision taken by the government to start medical colleges along with the nursing colleges at Nagar Kurnool, Wanaparthy, Jagtial, Sangareddy, Mehboobabad and Kothagudem. The Cabinet also sanctioned Nursing Colleges to the Medical Colleges already sanctioned. The Cabinet has decided to construct a super specialty hospital in Warangal in the existing Jail premises. The cabinet instructed the Home Department to shift the prisoners from the Warangal Jail to other Jails and handed over the premises to the Medical and Health department in a month’s time. The Cabinet also decided to select a sprawling area near Mamoonur and construct a Jail with all the latest amenities. The Cabinet has instructed the Home Department to prepare proposals for the construction of the new Jail and place before the Cabinet.

The Cabinet also decided to Vaccinate the students going abroad for the higher studies on a priority based on their Admission Letters. The Cabinet has instructed the Medical and Health department to prepare the guidelines in this regard.

The Cabinet also approved the state government’s decision to extend the existing BC reservation for another 10 years. The cabinet has decided to name the Necklace Road (5.5 Kms) here in Hyderabad as P V Narasimha Rao Marg to commemorate the end of Late PV’s Centenary Celebrations.

The Cabinet also decided to celebrate the State Formation Day following all the Covid Guidelines all over the State with limited number of people’s presence. It is decided that in the districts Ministers will pay tributes to the Martyrs and National Flag would be hoisted.

The Cabinet also discussed about farmers and agriculture in the advent of Monsoon season. The Cabinet expressed happiness over the State recording 3 Crores tonnes of Paddy production for two crops last year. The Cabinet instructed the officials concerned to ensure the supply of quality seeds, fertilizers and Pesticides as required by farmers. It wanted the Agriculture department to get its policies finalized on the matter.

The State Cabinet has instructed the Agriculture, Home, Intelligence departments to take stringent action against those preparing spurious seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. The Cabinet decided to sanction two Additional Directors posts in Agriculture department in tune with the agriculture extension increasing in the State. The Cabinet instructed the officials to identify lands to set up Food Processing Zones and nine to 10 Food Clusters to set up Food Processing Units.

The cabinet suggested that Rythu Bandhu Samithies should be activated; farmers training programmes should be conducted regularly in which Rythu Bandhu Samithies Presidents and district Agriculture officers should attended. The Cabinet also suggested that AEOs DAOs and Agriculture officers should discharge their duties with Rythu vedikas as the Centres and they should have regular interactions with the farmers. The Cabinet instructed the officials to create awareness among the farmers about cultivating Red Gram, Paddy and Cotton during the Monsoon season. The Cabinet also instructed that measures should be taken to add more Rice Mills in the State as the Paddy yield has increased. The cabinet has discussed the matter pertaining to the Centre not procuring the entire Paddy in the State and expressed its dissatisfaction over the Centre’s attitude. The Cabinet has decided to write a letter to the PM in this regard.

The Cabinet expressed satisfaction over 87 per cent of Paddy procurement happened so far and instructed the Civil Supplies department to complete the process in next four to five days. The cabinet also discussed about the demand for the fine variety of rice in the markets. The Cabinet estimated that since the demand for rice in the neighboring states decreased, it is better to go in for Cotton than Paddy in future, as it would get more profits. The cabinet suggested to the agriculture department to encourage Redgram Cultivation as it had more demand in the market.

The Cabinet also approved the state government’s decision to extend Rythu bandhu assistance from June 15 to 25 and deposit money in the farmers accounts as was done last summer. The Cabinet instructed revenue and Agriculture departments to update the details of lands, which moved from Part B to A. The Cabinet also asked the officials to focus more on increasing the strength of the soil.

The Cabinet also discussed the measures taken to get over the economic crisis arising out of Corona and to mobile resources. The Cabinet has instructed Chief Secretary Sri Somesh Kumar to initiate measures to sell the government lands and houses under the Housing Board.