New ration cards to be distributed from July 5: KTR

"More than four lakh ration cards are in existence in the State and all these will be replaced with new ones," Rama Rao said, participating in Palle Pragathi programme at Rajupet in Ghambiraopet mandal.

RAJANNA-SIRCILLA: Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K T Rama Rao announced on Thursday that new ration cards would be distributed from July 5.

“More than four lakh ration cards are in existence in the State and all these will be replaced with new ones,” Rama Rao said, participating in Palle Pragathi programme at Rajupet in Ghambiraopet mandal. The Minister said Telangana was the only State which was providing Rs 5,000 per acre financial support to farmers under the Rythu Bandhu scheme.

“Not just Rythu Bandhu, a number of schemes such as Rythu Bima and 24 hours free electricity supply, among others have been introduced for the welfare of farmers,” he said.

Talking about congress and BJP leaders’ comments, Rama Rao said out of 29 states, congress and BJP parties were in power in 28 states. None of the state was implementing Kalyanaxalmi, Rythu Bandhu, 24 hours free current, Sheep distribution scheme, Rs 2,000 pensions, double bedroom houses and others.

Bringing a smile on the faces of the poor was the main aim of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, he said, and pointed out that Aasara pension amounts had been hiked ten-folds. “Earlier, people used to get only Rs 200. The pension was enhanced to Rs 2,000 while differently abled persons get Rs 3,000. Moreover, the number of pensioners has also gone up from 29 lakh to 40 lakh,” he said.

Stating that a person from the shepherd community sent him a message asking about the second phase of sheep distribution, Rama Rao assured that it would begin soon. Over 3.5 lakh sheep units were distributed in the first phase of the scheme and another 3.5 lakh applications were received for the second phase, he said.

The Chief Minister has also discussed the issue in the cabinet meeting, Minister said and assured to distribute sheep units to all eligible people.
Quoting from Central government data, he said the sheep population in Telangana had doubled since the launch of the sheep distribution scheme in the State.

In order to change the face of rural areas, the government has taken up palle pragathi. There are 12,769 gram panchayats in the state and every panchayat has a tractor, trolley, tanker and nursery.  However, no state in the country has such facilities.

For the first time in the last 40 to 45 years, irrigable water was supplied to agricultural fields during Vanakalam season. All water bodies including irrigation projects, canals, tanks and ponds across the state overflowed even in the mid-summer. It was materialized with the construction of Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project. Godavari water was brought to Narmala project through Kudelli vagu in the district.

Talking about construction of the new bridge, Rama Rao said people from Srigadha, Rajupet and Kothapalli used to travel 30 to 40 kilometers distance additionally to reach Hyderabad or Bibipet. However, the distance has reduced with the construction of the bridge.