A delegation led by the minister called on Union Minister Puri in Delhi and also requested him to bring an NREGA-like scheme for the urban poor.
Published Jun 24, 2023 | 10:58 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 25, 2023 | 9:03 AM
KTR with Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Piyush Goyal on separate occasions. (Twitter)
It was long list that Telangana Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development KT Rama Rao carried to his meeting on Saturday, 24 June, with Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri.
At the very top was the approval and external funding for Phase II (B) of the Hyderabad Metro’s corridor from BHEL to Lakdikapul (26 km) and the Extension of Corridor 3 of Phase I from LB Nagar to Nagole (5 km).
A delegation led by the minister called on the Union Minister in Delhi and had some innovative ideas to offer. It requested him to bring an NREGA-like scheme specifically for the urban poor by providing employment guarantees in urban areas across the country.
KTR’s requests included — apart from funding for the construction of the missing link corridors — financial support for the implementation of a solid waste management project under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (FHMC), and in-principle approval and financial assistance for a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) Project.
The Telangana delegation also sought 20 percent funding for sewer network infrastructure for liquid waste collection in the Hyderabad Urban Agglomeration, seed funding of ₹100 crore for setting up a sanitation hub, and 20 percent funding of projects valued at ₹3,777.12 crore, which have been initiated by the state government during 2021-22.
Met with Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Sri @HardeepSPuri Ji today
Have requested the Minister for Union Government's assistance in several areas:
✳️ Funding for Metro expansion from BHEL to Lakdi Ka Pul and from Nagole to LB Nagar
✳️ Financial support for… pic.twitter.com/0PSaBsIJYT
— KTR (@KTRBRS) June 24, 2023
In the memorandum seeking support for the MRTS in Kokapet area on the west side of Hyderabad, which is fast developing as the new Central Business District (CBD), he sought a financial contribution of ₹450 crore from the Union government. The preliminary estimates of the MRTS is ₹3,050 crore.
Regarding the missing link roads to connect the Outer Ring Road, KTR said that 104 additional corridors have been identified to be taken up, with an estimated cost of ₹2,400 crore. He urged the Union government to extend support through a contribution of ₹800 crore.
To improve cleanliness and waste management in the state, KTR appealed to the Union Minister for financial support for the scientific treatment and disposal of legacy leachate and other resources for waste management, including procurement of tertiary vehicles with closed container and development of modern transfer stations.
The minister said that it would take ₹3,722.82 crore for three sewerage treatment plant (STPs) clusters under the proposed sanitation project — Development of Sewer Network Infrastructure for Liquid Waste Collection at Hyderabad Urban Agglomeration.
He appealed to the Union government to sanction 20 percent of the project cost which is ₹744.56 crore.
KTR said that the state government, with the support of the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), had developed a blueprint for the Sanitation Innovation Hub in Telangana and seed commitment was made by the state.
According to an official release, Hardeep Singh Puri expressed admiration for the Sanitation Hub Initiative. He acknowledged that the Sanitation Hub, with its creative concepts, would address numerous challenges in the development of municipalities.
The Union minister asked the state government to share its innovative ideas and provide details at an upcoming meeting organised by his ministry.
KTR said that the state government undertook various developmental projects through the Municipal Administration Department.
He extended an invitation to the Union minister to visit Hyderabad and personally assess the double-bedroom houses, SRDP link roads, sanitation, solid waste management, liquid waste management programmes, and other urban development initiatives being implemented by the state government.
KTR also called on Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal and discussed various issues, including the request for additional par-boiled rice target for Rabi season 2022-23.
KTR highlighted the significant paddy cultivation in Telangana during the Rabi season, covering over 57 lakh acres, which accounts for “more than 50 percent of the country’s paddy cultivation”, according to a press note.
KTR informed that the state has successfully procured 66.11 lakh metric tonnes of paddy during this Rabi season.
Met with Union Commerce, Textiles and Consumer Affairs Minister Sri @PiyushGoyal Ji today
Updated him on the progress of Kakatiya Mega Textile Park and how it has become an important example for promotion of Textile manufacturing
Briefed him on the tremendous expansion of… pic.twitter.com/p4P60Hr1Rr
— KTR (@KTRBRS) June 24, 2023
The minister informed the Union Minister that Telangana has been delivering custom milled rice in the form of par-boiled rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) during Rabi seasons as the high temperature during this period of paddy crop grown is not conducive for milling for delivery of raw rice within the stipulated broken limit of less than 25 percent.
KTR further added that the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru conducted test milling in 11 districts of the state during the previous Rabi season. The report indicated a broken percentage of 48.20 percent for MTU 1010, the major variety grown during the season.
The Government of India allocated 10.20 lakh metric tonnes of par-boiled rice target for the state (equivalent to 15 lakh metric tonnes of paddy), leaving a balance of 51.11 lakh metric tonnes of paddy to be milled for delivering raw rice to the FCI.
“The financial implication for delivery of one lakh metric tonnes of raw rice to the FCI works out to ₹42.08 crore due to the additional percentage of brokens and the total financial implication if the state has to deliver for the balance 34.24 lakh metric tonnes in the form of raw rice works out to ₹,1441 crore,” said KTR.
Considering the additional financial implication due to the higher broken percentage, KTR requested the allocation of an additional 20 lakh metric tonnes of par-boiled fortified rice target for Rabi 2022-23.
