Harish Rao slams Congress govt for scrapping Pharma City, says investments shifted to Andhra Pradesh

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi has accused the Congress government in Telangana of abandoning the Pharma City project, forcing several companies to move their investments to Andhra Pradesh. BRS leader T Harish Rao alleged that the decision has hurt employment prospects.

Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has said that the Congress government’s decision to abandon the Pharma City project has forced several companies to shift their investments to Andhra Pradesh.

During an informal chat with media persons here on Thursday, the BRS deputy floor leader and MLA T Harish Rao reiterated that the BRS would scrap the Future City project after returning to power.

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Harish Rao said several companies had planned major investments in Pharma City during the BRS government’s tenure. However, uncertainty created by the Congress government’s policies prompted many of them to relocate their projects to Sri City in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, he claimed.

Had the Pharma City project been continued, Telangana would have attracted substantial investments and generated employment opportunities, he said.

The BRS leader recalled that while in opposition, the Congress had promised farmers that lands acquired for Pharma City would be returned to them. After coming to power, the government was instead allocating the land to select interests, he alleged.

Harish Rao also claimed that the previous BRS government had secured all necessary environmental clearances for the project. He said the approvals contained provisions under which they could lapse if the land was used for purposes other than those originally approved.

Accusing Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of taking irrational decisions, he said the government’s approach had driven investments away from Telangana and affected employment prospects for youth.

Rs. 2000 crore scam

The former Minister also alleged that a Rs. 2,000 crore scam was behind the government’s decision to postpone schools reopening to June 15.

According to Harish Rao, the previous BRS government had entrusted the stitching of school uniforms to handloom workers, while footwear and belts were supplied through LIDCAP to support Dalit families.

He alleged that the Congress government had centralised the procurement process and awarded contracts to a Gujarat-based firm. He further claimed that tender rates had nearly doubled compared to previous years, leading to large-scale corruption. The contractor had failed to supply uniforms on time, while more than seven lakh students in residential institutions were yet to receive school bags, notebooks, belts and other essential items, he said.

“Delays in finalising commissions linked to the contracts had resulted in the postponement of school reopening,” Harish Rao said.
He also accused the Congress government of failing to effectively implement the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme and of delaying payments to women’s self-help groups working under Amma Odi committees.