In a marked shift from his role as the champion of the separate Statehood movement, Telangana Chief Minister-designate K. Chandrasekhar Rao has now embarked upon preparing long and short-term plans for reconstruction of the new State that is set to face problems in some key areas.
The TRS president has therefore focussed his attention on the power and irrigation sectors which could become major areas of concern in the coming days. Power is a key area for the new State which is tipped to face a shortfall of close to 5,000 MW while the scope for traditional irrigation projects is also limited, forcing dependence on lift irrigation schemes.
A week after his party won 63 out of 119 seats, Mr. Chandrashekar Rao is busy chalking out concrete action plans for the new State.
To begin with, he has handpicked bureaucrats, hailing from Telangana, with impeccable track record to join his team. Coal India chairman S. Narsing Rao, with roots in Medak district, will be the Chief Secretary and he will be assisted by Gopal Reddy, an IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre and V. Nagi Reddy. Regional Provident Fund Commission Rajashekar Reddy would be Mr. Rao’s OSD.
Mr. Rao was busy holding meeting with officials and advisors listing out priorities of his Government.
“Mr. Rao will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi where he will seek Centre’s assistance in implementing his action plan for Telangana. Top on the agenda are power crisis and national project status to Pranahita-Chevella and Palamur lift irrigation schemes,” a senior official told The Hindu on Wednesday.
Sources said Mr. Rao hopes that the NDA government at the Centre would not discriminate Telangana State because the Telugu Desam is its ally in Seemandhra.
Mr. Modi and BJP national president Rajnath Singh had spoken to Mr Rao on phone, which only shows that they do not want to lose out on non-Congress parties.
