Telangana Assembly: BRS MLA Kadiyam Srihari questions Congress on loan waiver for farmers

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari has questioned the Congress government about why it hasn't waived agricultural loan obligations for farmers after assuming power in the state. Srihari took part in the vote-on-account budget discussion on Wednesday during the Assembly budget sessions at the State Assembly.

Rs 1.36 lakh crore required for six guarantees

The Congress government had pledged to carry out the promises within 100 days, the BRS MLA recalled, adding that initial estimates show the government will need to spend Rs 1.36 lakh crore annually in order to carry out the six guarantees. He said there would be additional expenses for the statements made by Congress, including the loan waiver.

Telangana witnessed rapid development under BRS rule

“Telangana witnessed rapid development in the last decade under the rule of the BRS government. The Congress government gave 13 promises under the six guarantees. Apart from that, declarations were also made for SC, ST, BC, minority, farmers and women and in all the promises made by the age-old party are 420. The recent budget allocations will not be enough to implement the six guarantees. The government needs to spend additional funds for the implementation of loan waiver for farmers and other declarations. What happened to the implementation of a loan waiver for farmers after December 9, 2023,” Srihari said?

Rs 24,000 crore required for 4.16 dwellings in the state

The BRS MLA said that the government had committed in the budget to sanction 3,500 homes for each constituency. This will cost Rs 24,000 crore for more than 4.16 lakh dwellings in 119 constituencies across the state. He expressed disapproval at the budget's allocation of just Rs 7,000 crore for the housing sector. With regard to the Mahalakshmi scheme, Srihari noted that the government has committed to providing women with Rs 2,500 a month. To accomplish the policy for a single woman in every house, the government has to spend Rs 20,000 crore.

Initiate action on irregularities in Kaleshwaram project

Srihari found fault with the Congress government for making a hue and cry over the piers damaged in the Medigedda Lakshmi Barrage. He also said that Kaleshwaram doesn’t mean Medigedda Barrage alone. The Kaleshwaram comprises three barrages, 15 reservoirs, 19 substations, 21 pump houses, 203 km of tunnels, 1,531 km gravity canal, 98 km of pressure mains, storage capacity of 141 TMCs lift to a height of 530 metres to provide 240 TMCs of water, he said and added that the stern action should be taken against those involved in the irregularities of Kaleshwaram and the BRS doesn’t have any objection in this regard. Srihari also advised the Congress government to start fixing the Medigedda Lakshmi Barrage right away and get the ayacut ready for the next monsoon.