Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy Counters Harish Rao Over Future City Row

Reacting to Harish Rao’s comments that the BRS would cancel the Future City project if it returns to power, Ponguleti said such statements are common in opposition politics but do not reflect administrative reality.

He clarified that any decision to cancel a large-scale urban development project would have serious legal and financial consequences, including compensation to land purchasers and stakeholders involved in the project.

Ponguleti emphasized that the government cannot take politically driven decisions that violate legal commitments or affect public funds.

The minister further clarified the state government’s position on land valuation in the Hyderabad metropolitan region. He said the government is only revising land values for administrative purposes and has not increased registration values.

He explained that increasing registration value would directly impact future land acquisition costs and could place a heavy burden on the state exchequer.

Ponguleti said the Congress government is maintaining a balanced approach to ensure development while protecting public finances. He added that all decisions are being taken transparently and within constitutional limits.

Taking a political dig at the previous BRS regime, Ponguleti alleged that several files linked to ACB cases were deliberately kept pending without action. He claimed that this administrative delay had slowed governance and accountability mechanisms.

He asserted that the present Congress government has cleared nearly 3,500 pending files within the first three months of coming to power, aiming to improve efficiency and transparency in administration.

Addressing speculation over possible changes in his ministerial portfolio, Ponguleti said he comes from a farming background and is ready to serve in any department allotted by the Chief Minister. He stressed that he has always followed due process and has not taken any decision outside legal boundaries.

He also responded to criticism from BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao, stating that KTR frequently targets him politically. In a sarcastic remark, Ponguleti said KTR shows “excessive interest” in him through repeated criticism.