BRS slams government over sanitation crisis in Telangana

BRS MLC Takkallapalli Ravinder Rao blamed the Congress government for Telangana’s sanitation crisis, citing garbage accumulation, disease outbreaks, and delayed local body elections. He warned of direct action if conditions fail to improve, accusing the government of neglecting people’s basic needs

Hyderabad: Holding the Congress government squarely responsible for what he termed a sanitation crisis gripping the State, BRS MLC Takkallapalli Ravinder Rao on Saturday alleged that the government had failed to address the basic needs of the people.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, he said that garbage piling across the State, which has become a major concern, was unheard of during the previous BRS regime. Rao pointed out that garbage accumulation, from rural villages to Hyderabad, has triggered a surge in diseases such as dengue and malaria, with thousands hospitalised due to poor hygiene.

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He criticised the government for delaying local body elections, alleging that it has blocked central funds meant for village sanitation, turning rural areas into “filth heaps”. Rao also accused the Congress of deceiving Backward Classes (BCs) by promising 42 per cent reservations in local polls, despite being aware of the Supreme Court’s 50 per cent reservation cap.

He further charged the Congress with violating the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments introduced by Rajiv Gandhi, which mandate timely local elections. Rao also pointed to the dire condition of government hospitals, including NIMS, and highlighted farmers’ struggles due to urea shortages, contrasting it with former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s farmer-friendly policies.

Warning that the BRS would launch direct action if conditions do not improve, Rao reiterated that the government must act immediately. Former corporation chairmen Vasudeva Reddy, Venkateshwar Reddy, and BRS leader Raghav were also present.