Govt to Keep Word on Farm Loan Waiver, Muslim Quota

HYDERABAD: Allaying fears of farmers, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday clarified that his government would waive all crop loans, including those availed by mortgaging gold.

In his reply to the debate on the thanksgiving motion to the Governor’s Address in the State Assembly, KCR said he had already discussed debt waiver scheme with the finance department officials. “I sought more details on the types of loans taken by farmers. Even the crop loans taken against gold ornaments will be waived,” he said and added the waiver would cost the State exchequer about `19,000 crore, benefiting 26 lakh farmers.

Drawing attention of the House to his promise of 12 per cent reservation each to tribals and Muslims, Chandrasekhar Rao said he would constitute a commission with a retired judge to study the options available and submit a report. Before taking a final decision, he would place it in the Assembly and send it to the Centre for ratification. “It is 100% possible. In Telangana, tribals constitute 10.8 % of the population and with inclusion of Valmiki Boyas and Kagita Lambadis in the list of tribals, the percentage will increase to 11.7. Telangana is a land of weaker sections as they constitute 85% of the population including minorities. In such a scenario, limiting reservations to 50 % as per the Constitution is not possible. We will follow the example of Tamil Naidu, which now implements 68 % reservations. The State government by Act 45 of 1994 had made it possible. It prevailed upon the Centre and ensured that it got waiver from the limitations imposed, by including them in the IX Schedule. We too will prevail upon the Central Government. At the same time, care will be taken to ensure reservations for other sections, mostly BCs, are not affected in any manner,” he explained.

Full power for T’gana in 3 yrs

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday unveiled grandiose plans to overcome power crisis in the state in the next three years.  Speaking in the Assembly, he said around 20,000 MW will be available for Telangana after three years and assured 24-hour power supply to the ITIR. “During division of the State, the Sileru power project was allotted to Andhra. I raised this issue recently with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The only dependable hydro-electric project for Telangana is Sileru with an installed capacity of 480 MW. The Prime Minister assured me Sileru will be given back to Telangana,” he said.