Ahead of bypoll in Nagarjuna Sagar, CM K Chandrasekhar Rao’s largesse for Nalgonda

HYDERABAD: With Nagarjuna Sagar by-elections round the corner and a lot at stake for the TRS after the setbacks in Dubbak and GHMC polls, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday showered sops worth Rs 2,700 crore on the erstwhile Nalgonda district.
Of the total bonanza, Rs 2,500 crore would be spent on various lift irrigation (LI) schemes in the next one-and-a-half years and Rs 186 crore on development of municipalities, mandal headquarters and gram panchayats in the district.This is the highest amount sanctioned to any district ahead of a bypoll after the TRS came to power. After the TRS candidate scored a stunning victory in Huzurnagar bypoll in October 2019, KCR had sanctioned Rs 100 crore for the assembly constituency.
Addressing a well-attended public meeting in Halia, which falls under Nagarjuna Sagar constituency, the CM said his government would take up new schemes like offering Rs 1 lakh financial assistance to ‘Nayee Brahmins’ (barbers) for setting up modern saloons in villages and setting up a fund with Rs 1,000 crore for CM Dalit Development Fund from the next financial year. With the BJP upping the ante on the TRS for giving short shrift to Dalits and marginalised sections, the CM’s announcement on the new Dalit fund assumes importance.
In another largesse, the CM said his government would soon start issuing new pensions and ration cards. It may be recalled the government had stopped sanctioning pensions and ration cards in the last one year due to the pandemic.
The CM said a GO will be issued on Thursday on granting of Rs 10 crore for Nalgonda municipality, Rs 5 crore for Miryalaguda municipality and Rs 1 crore each for other municipalities. He said Rs 30 lakh each will be released for mandal headquarters towns and Rs 20 lakh each for 844 gram panchayats in the district.
Before addressing the public meeting, the CM laid the foundation stone for various LI schemes. They include Nellikallu, Pagilla, Kambalapalli, Sambapuram Pedda Gattu, Pedda Munagala, AKBR, Dunnapothula Gandi, Ballepally Chapla Thanda, Kesavapuram Kondrapol, Bothalapalem Wadapalli and Muktyala branch LI schemes. Cement concrete lining of Sagar left canal, Janpahad branch distributary CC lining and other works will also be taken up, he said and added that the government would sanction two more LI schemes.
Asserting that works on the LI schemes would be completed in 18 months, he said: “If they are not completed within the stipulated time, we will not seek votes in the next assembly elections.” He also said that Dindi LI scheme will be completed soon. He vowed to link Godavari and Krishna rivers by brining Krishna waters to Peddadevulapalle in Nalgonda district to ensure water for every acre in Nagarjuna Sagar ayacut.
The CM said about 4,000 acres to 5,000 acres in villages like Nellikallu and Chintalapalem are caught in land disputes. “We will resolve the disputes and issue land pattas to the eligible beneficiaries in the next two to three days.” He directed the district collector to take the necessary steps in this regard.