Telangana To Roll Out Free Fine Rice Scheme Covering 84% Population From Ugadi: Uttam

Hyderabad, March 26:  Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that the state government will launch the free fine rice distribution scheme on March 30, coinciding with Ugadi. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will inaugurate the scheme, which will provide fine-quality rice free of cost to over 3 crore people, covering nearly 84% of Telangana’s population.

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Calling it the biggest-ever food security initiative in independent India, Uttam Kumar Reddy said each individual would receive 6 kg of fine rice per month through the Public Distribution System (PDS).

The scheme replaces coarse grains that were previously distributed — 80–90% of which were not even edible. “Most beneficiaries did not consume the earlier PDS rice, leading to large-scale diversion and misuse. Government supplies worth Rs 7,000–8,000 crore were being siphoned off annually. It had almost turned into a mafia,” he said.

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He criticised the previous BRS regime for failing to improve the PDS system and misleading the public with false claims of new ration card distribution. “Between 2014 and 2023, they made token additions only during by-elections. We are now adding lakhs of genuine beneficiaries,” he said.

As part of the overhaul, the government has begun issuing new ration cards. Families with pending applications or new members will also receive rice. Cards will be colour-coded — Tricolour for BPL and Green for APL — and cardholders will now be able to collect their ration from any fair price shop in the state under the portable ration facility.

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To support ration dealers, the government has already increased their commission and is planning to add more essential commodities to their inventory this year to boost their income. “We will strengthen their business and livelihood,” he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana’s fine rice cultivation has jumped from 25 lakh acres to 40 lakh acres, following a Rs 500 bonus per quintal for fine variety procurement. He also confirmed that Rs 1,199 crore in procurement bonuses has already been paid to farmers, and the pending Rs 37 crore will be cleared in the next two days.

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He asserted that Telangana achieved a record paddy production of 153 lakh metric tonnes across 66.77 lakh acres in Kharif 2024, the highest ever in the history of both Telangana and undivided Andhra Pradesh. “Figures don’t lie. The state is making history,” he said.

The minister affirmed the government’s commitment to dignified food access. “We are not here to make excuses. We are here to deliver results — clean ration, clean systems, and a clean conscience,” he said.

Kaleshwaram lapses exposed in Vigilance, NDSA reports: Uttam

Major lapses in the design and construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project have been officially confirmed in the Vigilance and National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) preliminary reports, Uttam Kumar Reddy. He said a judicial inquiry into the matter is underway and its report, along with the final NDSA assessment, is expected within a week to 10 days.

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Citing the findings, the minister said the foundation technology used for the three barrages was flawed, with a clear mismatch between the DPR and actual implementation. “The Detailed Project Report mentioned sheet pile technology, but secant pile was used. NDSA experts have expressed fear that the barrages may collapse and even submerge nearby vilalges and towns like Bhadrachalam,” he warned.

Uttam Kumar Reddy accused the previous BRS regime of pushing the state into a man-made irrigation disaster. “Kaleshwaram was designed, constructed, and damaged by the previous BRS government. Despite spending over Rs 1 lakh crore, it failed to irrigate even one lakh acres,” he said.

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He slammed the shift of the Tummadihatti project to Medigadda, saying it was done without expert approval and led to a cost escalation to Rs 1.5 lakh crore. “The Central Water Commission never recommended the shift. A five-member committee of Chief Engineers opposed it, but their views were ignored,” he said.

Calling the previous government’s irrigation borrowing strategy reckless, he said Telangana is now burdened with Rs 16,000 crore annually in interest and principal payments on short-term, high-interest loans. “They didn’t take a long-term loan loans but left us with a financial sinkhole by taking short-term high interest loans,” he said.

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On Krishna river water sharing, he said Telangana was systematically short-changed. “Since 2014, BRS signed annual agreements allowing Andhra Pradesh to draw 511 TMC, while Telangana received just 299 TMC. After Congress came to power, we reopened the case before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal,” he said.

He blamed the BRS regime for enabling Andhra Pradesh to build infrastructure to illegally divert water through projects like Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS), Malyala, and Pothireddypadu, severely affecting Telangana’s own irrigation schemes like Kalwakurthy, Nettampadu, and Palamuru-Rangareddy.

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Despite the financial stress, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Congress government has prioritised irrigation projects that can be completed quickly with available funds. “We’ve completed Pump House 3 of the Devadula Project on a war footing. Pumping will begin tonight,” he announced.

Other projects including Chanaka-Korata, PPR, Komuram Bheem, and Jagannadham are being taken up on priority. He also confirmed that new projects like Relampadu Reservoir, Kotapally, and Lakshmidevipally will be sanctioned soon.

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To prevent further water losses, the state has begun installing telemetry equipment to monitor river usage — something Andhra Pradesh failed to do despite setting up diversion infrastructure. “We gave funds to KRMB to begin telemetry. It’s finally happening under our government,” he said.

The minister reiterated that Telangana will focus on low-cost, high-ayacut, and early-start projects, aiming to reverse years of stagnation. He added that Yasangi crop losses across all notified ayacut areas will be compensated and farmers will not be left helpless.

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Highlighting Telangana’s agricultural success, he said the state achieved a record paddy production of 153 lakh metric tonnes in Kharif 2024, cultivated over 66.77 lakh acres — the highest in the history of Telangana and undivided Andhra Pradesh. “The opposition spreads falsehoods, but figures don’t lie,” he said.

He concluded by saying that irrigation works are now being driven by technical input, transparency, and accountability. “We are not here to cover up blunders. We are here to fix them and deliver water to every acre,” he said.

SLBC tunnel rescue enters final phase

Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy also provided an update on the rescue operations at the collapsed SLBC tunnel, which have entered their 34th day. So far, two bodies have been recovered, and efforts are on to retrieve the remaining workers.

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Teams from the NDRF, SDRF, Singareni Mines Rescue, South Central Railway, and other expert agencies are working under extremely difficult conditions. He said Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, himself, and other ministers visited the site and are closely monitoring the efforts.

“We are using every resource and expert available, both within and outside the country. We will not rest until the operation is complete,” he said. (Maxim News)

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