TRS govt will fulfil election promises, says Rao

Hyderabad, Mar 17: The Telangana government would fulfil its pre-poll promises like provision of land for SCs and also implement various welfare programmes, including housing for the poor, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said today.

Speaking in the Assembly on the state budget, he said the government is ready to buy lands for distribution from owners and the MLAs can help in the process. The chief minister looks after departments of SC and Minorities welfare.

Rao, who talked about the number of welfare measures taken by his government, said construction of houses for the poor would be taken up in new localities. Workers at 'anganwadi' (child care centres) would be provided with good quality rice, he said. Saying that the government is concerned over farmer suicides, he noted that a scheme to provide relief to affected families is being implemented in the districts.

Though the Andhra Pradesh government "denied" share of power to Telangana from the Krishnapatnam power project, he said it turned out be good for Telangana as it would have caused a big financial burden.

Responding to the demands made by MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, Rao announced several benefits to minorities like issuing welfare funds through 'green channel', recruitment of Urdu teachers, making Urdu an optional subject for students and taking steps for protection of Waqf Board lands among others.

Responding to a clarification sought by Opposition Leader K Jana Reddy (Congress), Rao said the government would gather financial resources to the tune of Rs 96,000 crore. The Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) may submit proposals for a tariff hike and the proposals would be studied by the government, he said.

PTI