Telangana local body elections to have 42 percent reservation for BCs

The Telangana Cabinet decided to hold local body elections with 42 percent reservations for BCs and SC/ST quota based on the 2001 census. It also discussed flood damages, paddy procurement lapses, and appointment of in-charges for fisheries societies

Hyderabad: The State government has decided to conduct the local body elections by providing 42 percent reservations to BCs, while SC/ST reservations will be based on the 2001 population census.

Announcing the decisions of the State Cabinet meeting here on Saturday, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said it had been four months since the two Bills to extend 42 percent reservations to BCs in local bodies and employment opportunities were passed in the Assembly. These were sent to the Governor and subsequently to the President for assent, which is still awaited. Considering the Telangana High Court’s orders to conduct the local body elections before September 30 and other factors, the Cabinet decided to go ahead with elections by providing 42 percent reservations, he said.

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An ordinance was issued two months ago to clear the 50 percent ceiling on reservations under the 2018 Panchayat Raj Act and the 2019 Municipal Act. As per procedure, the ordinance turns into a Bill after discussion in the Assembly. Accordingly, the ordinance will be discussed in the Assembly on Sunday to seek suggestions from all parties, the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said a few lives were lost and property damage was reported, besides damage to national highways and railway tracks at several places due to the recent rains.

“The floodwater is receding and damage assessment is under way. Officials have been directed to submit reports on the losses by Monday. A State-level meeting will be held at 4 pm that day to discuss the reports,” Srinivas Reddy said.

The Minister said that under the procurement of stocks in the rabi season of 2022-23, a few tenders were floated but some were deliberately delayed, rendering them ineffective. As a result, 7 lakh MTs of paddy offered to rice millers was not recovered. The issue was discussed at length, and it was decided to recover the funds from millers as per the rates quoted in the bids. If millers refuse to pay, the government will book cases against them under the PD Act, he said.

The Cabinet also decided to appoint in-charges for the fisheries cooperative societies in view of the delay in conducting their elections.