Congress MLAs flag procurement woes, housing delays in Assembly

Congress MLAs in Telangana Assembly voiced strong concerns over delays in housing projects and procurement restrictions affecting farmers. Speaker G Prasad Kumar and several legislators highlighted incomplete double-bedroom and Indiramma houses, pending bills, and lack of amenities.

Hyderabad: Much to the embarrassment of the Congress government, several Congress MLAs, including Speaker G Prasad Kumar, raised complaints in the Assembly on Saturday over procurement-related problems faced by farmers in their constituencies, besides flagging delays in handing over double bedroom houses and Indiramma Houses.

During Question Hour, the Speaker said that in his Vikarabad constituency, 90 percent of the double bedroom houses had been completed. He said the beneficiaries would be able to occupy the houses if the remaining 10 percent of works were completed.

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He also directed Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy to convene a meeting with MLAs facing similar problems across the State. This was the second issue raised by the Speaker in the House after earlier highlighting the monkey menace in his constituency.

Earlier, Miryalguda Congress MLA B Laxma Reddy said around 500 double bedroom houses had been constructed in the constituency three years ago. He said doors and windows were getting damaged due to the ongoing delay in handing over the houses to the beneficiaries and appealed to the State government to take necessary steps.

Kalwakurthy MLA K Narayan Reddy said 240 double bedroom houses were constructed in his constituency, but the provision of electricity, drinking water and other facilities was delayed. He said Rs 1.5 crore had been spent from the Constituency Development Fund to provide these amenities.

Alair MLA Beerla Ilaiah said that despite many Indiramma Houses beneficiaries completing basement construction, bills were not being cleared, citing various reasons. Bhupalpally MLA G Satyanarayana Rao said 63 bills related to basement payments under the Indiramma Housing scheme were pending in his constituency.

Several Congress MLAs also highlighted the hardships being faced by cotton and soya farmers in their respective constituencies.

Devarkonda MLA Balu Naik said many cotton farmers were suffering due to the five-quintal procurement limit imposed by the Central government. He urged the Agriculture Minister to take up the issue with the Cotton Corporation of India and resolve farmers’ problems. Shadnagar MLA K Shankaraiah raised similar concerns.

Jukkal MLA Laxmikantha Rao said farmers in his constituency produced 6.15 lakh quintals of soya, but only 1.82 lakh quintals were procured due to terms and conditions imposed by the Central government. “The State government should discuss the issue with the Central government and bail out farmers from the crisis,” he said.

Meanwhile, BRS turncoat MLA from Khairatabad Danam Nagender wondered how only six lakh families benefitted under the Gruha Jyothi scheme in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts, which together have a population of nearly two crore.

He said several people who were yet to receive new ration cards were also being denied benefits under the scheme. More importantly, many consumers were complaining that despite the promise of 200 units of free power supply, they were being billed for the entire consumption even if it exceeded the limit by just 10 to 15 units. This, he said, was defeating the very purpose of implementing the scheme.

Replying to the criticism, Energy Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka reminded that the Congress had clearly stated during the elections that the scheme would apply only up to 200 units of free power supply.

“If the consumption crosses 200 units, the consumers will be levied bills for the total consumption,” he said.