Cornered by the Opposition members for including only 459 names in Telangana martyrs’ list, Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao said the list was not final.
Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council D. Srinivas and Deputy leader Md Ali Shabbir gave specific names – Sumalatha, Naresh and Karim – who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Telangana. Yet, despite assurances from the TRS leaders to their families, their names did not figure in the government order and no compensation was given to the families so far.
Earlier, replying to a query, Revenue Minister Md Mahmood Ali said the names of 1,969 martyrs would also be included for extending compensation of Rs.10 lakh to the families.
Mr. Harish Rao said that Rs.100 crore was allotted in the budget for martyrs’ families with a view to add more names and the Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, directed the Collectors to furnish the names of all martyrs in every district. He asked the members to also submit the names that came to their notice.
Rajiv RahadariMembers from all parties expressed concern over the slow progress of Rajiv Rahadari from Hyderabad to Karimnagar and questioned the collection of toll though the works were not yet completed. The House Committee recommendations to overcome the lacunae in the design were also ignored, they said.
However, Excise Minister Padma Rao said that toll tax was being collected for the completed stretch and added that unfinished culverts and other works would be completed as soon as land acquisition was done and other clearances from Railways were obtained.
Open barsResponding to a question from M.S. Prabhakar Rao (Congress) about wine shops doubling up as open bars on the road itself, Mr. Padma Rao said all such shops would be removed as part of new excise policy to be introduced by the government.
