Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said it will not be surprising if the budget of Telangana crosses Rs. 2 lakh crore by 2019-20, against Rs. 1.15 lakh crore now, going by the pace of developmental programmes in the State, but the government had mega plans to spend the huge amount on infrastructure creation and welfare of poor.
Addressing the plenary of TRS on the occasion of its 15th anniversary here on Wednesday, Mr. Rao said the government proposed to spend up to Rs 2.5 lakh crore only on irrigation projects, Mission Kakatiya, Mission Bhagiratha and some other programmes. The TRS plenary which was organised in Khammam for the first time, was attended by a number of delegates from various districts.
The Chief Minister presided over the proceedings, flanked by his Cabinet colleagues, MPs and MLAs. The temperature which hovered around 45 degrees Celsius took a heavy toll of the participants though the organisers arranged overhead sprinklers around the huge pandal.
It was proposed to bring 1 crore acres under cultivation by constructing irrigation projects. Reservoirs to store 350 tmcft of water will be constructed. A policy to build 2.60 lakh double-bedroom houses for poor was being finalised. Mr. Rao asked party workers to guard against corrupt elements who tried to water down government programmes. They raised their ugly head in Kalyana Lakshmi programme of financial aid to brides. Insisting that the entire credit for formation of Telangana State would go to workers who stood by him when he led the agitation, he asked them not to be depressed if they were not rewarded with posts immediately. He reminded them that he himself became a Minister 13 years after he was elected as an MLA.
About 3,500 to 4,000 nominated posts would be up for distribution to workers by May end. He also said there were positive signals that the strength of Assembly would go up by 34 members and that of Legislative Council by 10 more members which would further ease the situation. The welfare programmes of TRS government had taken the entire country by surprise. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi complimented him at the fine results that they gave. The TRS recorded historic victories in elections because it recognised people as its bosses, he added.
Government has plans to spend it on infrastructure and welfare of poor, says Chief Minister
