No consensus on Telangana: Minister

Hyderabad, Aug 14 (UNI) Union Rural Development Minister and member of Telangana Sub Committee constituted by the Centre, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh today said no consensus has evolved for the formation of Telangana so far.

Addressing a video conference from New Delhi, Mr Singh said it would take some more time to evolve a consensus among the political parties in bifurcating Andhra Pradesh.

Stating that the Centre was allocating additional funds for the development of backward Telangana, he said the issue could also be solved with Telangana's development instead of separating it.

Lauding Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's government for taking up several welfare programmes in the state, Mr Singh said the Centre had allocated more funds for the development of villages.

The funds were being utilised properly as the poor were enjoying the fruits.

The Minister said the Centre had allocated Rs 2139.80 crore for rural employment guarantee scheme in 2006-07 out of which Rs 1826.23 crore had been spent.

UNI