CM holds tourism review without Tourism Minister, fuelling political debate

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy reviewed the Tourism Department without Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, triggering political attention amid BRS criticism. The meeting focused on tourism infrastructure, eco-tourism and heritage projects, while Krishna Rao simultaneously chaired a separate review meeting in Kollapur

Hyderabad: In a move that is likely to stir up a political debate, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday conducted a review meeting on the Tourism Department without the involvement of Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao.

The development comes amid repeated allegations by the opposition BRS that the Chief Minister has been interfering in the functioning of portfolios handled by his Cabinet colleagues. BRS leaders have claimed that ministers are often kept in the dark while the Chief Minister issues directions directly to officials.

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Against this backdrop, Revanth Reddy held a review meeting with senior Tourism Department officials at the MCRHRD on Monday in the absence of Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao. During the meeting, he directed officials to expedite the development of tourism infrastructure across the State, with a focus on heritage conservation, eco-tourism and urban forest development.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to further develop Taramati Baradari as a major tourist destination and transform Durgam Cheruvu into a full-fledged tourist attraction. He also called for the modernisation of the Manjeera and Dilkusha guest houses.

He suggested that forest lands falling within the CURE limits be developed for eco-tourism in coordination with the Tourism Department and asked officials to establish eco-parks across the city on the lines of the Gurramguda Eco Park.

Revanth Reddy also directed officials to develop the historic Puranapul bridge as a tourist attraction by improving visitor facilities. If feasible, traffic should be diverted to enable tourists to access the heritage structure more conveniently, he said.

The Chief Minister also reviewed preparations for the proposed Global Investment Summit scheduled to be held in December and instructed officials to constitute inter-departmental coordination committees to ensure seamless coordination among departments.

The Chief Minister’s practice of reviewing departments headed by Cabinet colleagues has already attracted political scrutiny. Last month, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy reviewed the progress of the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS), only for the Chief Minister to convene another review meeting on the same project within two days.

Jupally holds meeting in Kollapur

Interestingly, while the Chief Minister was reviewing tourism projects in Hyderabad, Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao was holding a separate review meeting in his constituency, Kollapur, with officials from the Revenue, Forest and other departments.

Expressing displeasure over delays in clearing pending files, Krishna Rao pulled up officials, stating that despite repeated review meetings and instructions, there had been little progress. “Despite reviewing the files in the past and issuing orders, the status of the files remains the same,” the infuriated Minister told the officials.

Only last week, Krishna Rao had challenged BRS leaders to an open debate on the State’s debt, accusing them of presenting contradictory figures and failing to turn up at Telangana Bhavan for the discussion. He instead asked them to come to Gun Park.