Telangana cabinet approves separate SC, ST commissions

■  Ministers and MLAs to celebrate Diwali with beneficiaries of Indiramma houses across Telangana

■  Every family in Telangana will get Rs 5 lakh life insurance under the Indiramma Family

■  Distribution of Indiramma sarees will begin on Nov 19

• metro india news I hyderabad

The Telangana Cabinet has taken several key decisions, including the creation of separate commissions for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), the launch of a Rs. 5 lakh family life insurance scheme and the distribution of Indiramma sarees to women across the state.

The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at the Secretariat on Thursday, also discussed the Global Summit.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, along with ministers Adluri Laxman Kumar and Vakiti Srihari, announced that the Indiramma Family Life Insurance and Indiramma saree distribution programmes would be launched at a major public meeting in Siddipet on November 19, marking the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Under the Indiramma Family Life Insurance scheme, every family in Telangana will receive life insurance coverage of Rs. 5 lakh. From November 20 to 30, Indiramma committees will visit households across every village to collect applications. Tahsildars and gram panchayat secretaries will receive the applications.

The government will also launch the distribution of Indiramma sarees to women as part of the November 19 celebrations.

The Cabinet decided to undertake comprehensive restoration of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages under the Kaleshwaram project. Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said officials had completed all the tests recommended by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and submitted individual reports for each test.

He said the government was prepared to implement further measures in accordance with the NDSA's recommendations and expert committee reports. Detailed technical assessments have been completed regarding the repair methods, construction of protective embankments in the off-stream area and the required width and thickness of spillway aprons.

The minister said all restoration works would be carried out in accordance with technical standards, with the objective of bringing the Kaleshwaram project back into operation. He added that the safety of the three barrages remained a major priority.

It was also decided to organise the 'Maa Indiramma Intlo Deepavali' programme across the state during the festival. Ministers and MLAs will participate in celebrations alongside beneficiaries of Indiramma housing schemes in their respective constituencies. The programme will cover all 2.25 lakh Indiramma houses whose construction has already been completed.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy will visit the Kodangal Assembly constituency from November 7 to 9 to participate in various development programmes. A major farmers' public meeting will be held there on November 9, attended by the Chief Minister, ministers and agricultural scientists.

In a significant administrative decision, the Cabinet approved the abolition of the existing joint Telangana State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the establishment of separate commissions for the two communities.

Each new commission will have one chairperson and five members. The government expects the move to help address complaints and grievances from SC and ST communities more efficiently.

The Cabinet approved the issuance of an ordinance to amend the Telangana Fire Services Act, 1999. The proposed changes will focus on fire prevention, identifying the causes of fire accidents and improving emergency response mechanisms. The amendments will also specify safety responsibilities for owners of houses, apartments and shopping complexes, along with the duties of the Fire Services Department.

The Cabinet also approved an amendment to Section 12(A) of the Telangana Survey and Boundaries Act, 1923, reducing the time limit for filing appeals against notices relating to surveys and boundary matters from 60 days to 30 days.

The Cabinet sanctioned 136 additional posts for judicial institutions across the state.

The appointments and staffing approvals are intended to support the functioning of the newly established and additional courts.

‘Barrages must be secured’

■  Restoration works to proceed strictly as per experts’ recommendations, works to commence in December

■  Optimal utilisation of lower Godavari waters through Devadula and Sitarama lift irrigation schemes

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday reviewed the restoration of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages and directed officials to undertake repairs strictly in accordance with recommendations of Central government institutions and dam safety experts.

He asked ministers to counter alleged false propaganda that water available at Medigadda was not being lifted. Irrigation engineers explained that lifting the water was technically unfeasible under present conditions. For water to reach Yellampalli, the gates of Annaram and Sundilla barrages would have to be closed. However, the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) had directed that the gates of these structurally deficient barrages remain open.

Revanth Reddy said lower Godavari water, which earlier went waste, was now being utilised extensively through the Devadula and Sitarama lift irrigation schemes, supplying irrigation and drinking water to parts of the combined Warangal, Nalgonda and Khammam districts.

He said the average annual water lifted through Devadula had increased from 9.57 TMC during the previous government to 18.13 TMC over the last three years, an 89 per cent rise. By October this year, 16.71 TMC had been lifted through Devadula and 8.10 TMC through Sitarama, taking the total to 24.81 TMC.

He observed that completion of the Pranahita project and construction of a barrage at Tummidihetti would have helped the State overcome water shortages even during drought conditions. Pranahita water could also have been brought to Yellampalli at a lower cost.