Telangana to waive crop loans without any riders

Hyderabad, June 13:

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao Friday made it clear that the government will waive all crop loans of up to Rs.1 lakh without any riders.

He announced this in the Telangana assembly while allaying the apprehensions of the opposition parties during the debate on thed motion of thanks on the governor's address.

KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, said the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government would implement all its poll promises.

He said the government was in the process of collecting details of the outstanding crop loans and assured the house that the decisions will be taken in consultation with all political parties. He told the house that the loan waiver scheme will benefit 26 lakh farmers.

Last week, Finance Minister E. Rajender stated that crop loans taken only during the last one year would be waived, triggering protests by farmers.

KCR reiterated that the government will have zero tolerance for political corruption. He said if political corruption was controlled, corruption at other levels in the administration can also be curbed.

He made it clear that there will be no compromise on the issue of merger of villages of Khammam district with Andhra Pradesh. He demanded that the centre take back the ordinance issued to merge the villages which are likely to be submerged by Polavaram irrigation project.

KCR promised to implement all schemes in a transparent manner and through consultation with other parties. He hoped that the central government will lend a helping hand to Telangana.

He was confident that Telangana will become electricity surplus state in three years. He said state-owned Power Generation Corporation would generate additional 6,000 Megawatt electricity. He also ruled out private participation in electricity generation.

IANS