Telangana plans pharma, cinema, sports cities around Hyderabad

, Aug 15:

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao Friday said his government would build pharma, manufacturing, education, health, sports and cinema cities around Hyderabad.

Speaking at Independence Day celebrations at the historic Golconda Fort, he said the government already begun efforts to set up these hubs and also satellite townships around Hyderabad. The government is also preparing a world-class master plan for the city.

KCR, as Rao is popularly called, said the government was trying to enhance brand image of Hyderabad by focusing on improving law and order and as part of these efforts had taken up modernization of police force.

"We are also working with private companies to make Hyderabad WiFi city. The city will soon be 4G WiFi," he said.

KCR said the government was also trying to turn Hyderabad into information technology incubator hub.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief said the government was in the process of evolving an industrial policy. He promised that this would be the best policy in the country with transparency, zero corruption and single-window system for industrial clearances. He said five lakh acres of land would be made available for setting up industries.

The chief minister appealed to people to participate in state-wide household survey Aug 19. He clarified that the survey is aimed at identifying real beneficiaries of welfare schemes to weed out bogus beneficiaries and urged people not to believe those spreading misinformation about the survey.

KCR also used the occasion to launch the scheme for distribution of three acres of land each among Dalit families. He also presented land documents among some beneficiaries.

He honoured sportspersons including five Commonwealth Games medalists with cash awards. He also felicitated policemen, teachers and others for their meritorious services.

The chief minister listed out the steps taken by his government since assuming office in June including release of Rs.482 crore input subsidy to farmers, waiver of farms loans of up to Rs.1 lakh, exemption autorickshaws and agriculture tractors from road tax, announcement of a water grid to solve drinking water problem, special increment to government employees, regularization of contract employees and cash incentives for sportspersons.

He said waiver of farm loans of up to Rs.1 lakh would benefit 40 lakh families. The scheme would cost Rs.18,000 crore to state exchequer.

He reiterated that the government would form two commissions headed by former judges of the high court to consider enhancing reservation for scheduled tribes and Muslims to 12 percent.

The government will provide Rs.1,000 crore for minority welfare in the budget for 2014-15. Wakf Board will be given judicial powers to protect Wakf properties.

He said the TRS implemented its poll promise by increasing widow and old age pension to Rs.1,000. The pension for handicapped has also been enhanced to Rs.1,500 crore.

He announced a a new scheme would be launched from Dussehra for extending Rs.50,000 financial assistance each for the marriage of Dalit and tribal girls.

IANS