Neellu, Nidhulu, Niyamakaalu paving way for Bangaru TS

The genesis of Telangana movement can be traced in the deliberate legacy neglect of the region in the combined State of Andhra Pradesh, in most neglected areas such as Neellu, Nidhulu, Niyaamakaalu (water, funds and jobs). On each of the three, the people of Telangana felt that they were discriminated against in the united Andhra Pradesh, leading to a long and sometimes violent fight for a separate state, which finally became a reality on June 2, 2014, when Telangana was carved out as the 29th Indian state with Hyderabad as the joint capital for both states for 10 years.

Telangana, started its journey towards achieving the goal of “Bangaru Telangana” not with a single step but several steps and strides. The formation of Telangana State has given the government a golden opportunity to undo many disoriented polices and usher in reforms to deliver for participatory, accountable and development-oriented governance to the people of Telangana.

The major challenge before the government is not only to regain the growth momentum but is should also inclusive and forward looking. Towards achieving these compelling imperatives, the State government has embarked on several prestigious development programmes during the past two years.

Neellu (Water):
During the first year, the government launched the marquee flagship programme of “Mission Kakatiya,” to revive 46,500 minor irrigation tanks by the end of 2019 at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore. Besides, reviving the tanks and enhancing the groundwater table, it will help irrigate an additional 10 lakh acres. Around a third of those tanks are likely to be operational by the time rains arrive this year.

Of the Rs 20,000 crore, around Rs 11,500 crore will be met through state budgetary resources, and the rest through loans and grants from the Centre and development institutions. The other, more ambitious project is “Mission Bhagiratha,” which will provide piped drinking water to each of the 84 lakh households in the state by 2018.

The project will cost twice as much as Kakatiya, and the government has publicly said that ruling party would not fight the 2019 assembly polls if this project was not completed. Thus, these two flagship programmes would help in addressing serious problems like shortage of drinking water and lack of underground water for carrying out agriculture and allied activities in the newly formed state.

Irrigation is a critical determinant of agriculture productivity. Telangana has set aside over Rs 24,000 crore for irrigation in 2016-17 in its budget. It is a fifth of the total planned expenditure and a 170% jump over the previous year's allocation for irrigation. Drinking water and industry will account for 10% each of water from irrigation projects.

With massive allocation of budget three schemes like Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS), Dindi project and Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation scheme are proposed to be taken up the State government. The Palamuru- Rangareddy lift irrigation project, expected to cost over Rs 35,000 crore, will lift 90 tmcft of excess water from the Srisailam reservoir during the flood season.

It will irrigate 10 lakh acres, provide drinking water to Hyderabad and supply water for industrial use to Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and Rangareddy districts. The project is expected to be completed in 30 months. The Rs 10,000 crore Dindi project, whose source is again the Srisailam reservoir, will irrigate 3.5 lakh acres and provide drinking water in fluoride-affected Nalgonda.

Nidhulu (Resources)
As per the 14th Finance Commission, Telangana districts accounted for 49.5 per cent resources raised by the combined state of Andhra Pradesh, of which only 38.8 percent revenue was spent in Telangana. Thus surplus revenue in Telangana was entirely attributed on account of deliberate neglect and under-spending in relation to revenue collection and development needs and not on account of the higher potential. Transfer of surplus budgetary resources continued all through 58 from 1956 to 2014, which resulted in low public investments in socio economic development and inheritance of a lopsided economy.

Jobs (Niyamakulu)
Due to inordinate delay in bifurcation of employees between AP and Telangana, the State went ahead with launching recruitments in State undertakings likes TSGENCO/TSTRANSCO and Singareni Collieries. It launched the nationally acclaimed Online State Public Service Commission Recruitment process with amazing results. Recruitment process for Group I and II posts is in the offing.

Welfare programmes
Among the Telangana government's schemes are distribution of three acres of land to each Dalit family, free two-bedroom flats to the poor and Rs 51,000 to every scheduled caste or scheduled tribe bride, provided her family's annual income does not exceed Rs 2 lakh. Because of the government's various projects and welfare schemes, its liabilities as a share of its gross state domestic product have risen from 16.06% in 2014-15 to 17.27% in 2015-16.It is expected to rise further this fiscal to 18.46%.

A cursory glance of other welfare programme reveals that most of them are aimed at alleviating the socio-economic conditions of the impoverished, while giving them a sense of dignity and security in their lives have introduced Aasara pensions scheme for old age, widowed, disabled, AIDS and beedi workers by enhancing from Rs 200 to Rs 1000 and for disable it has enhanced to Rs 1500, that got tremendous trust and confidence of all the people in the state.

The stupendous success of Telangana Intensive Household Survey has helped the government pluck the leakages in the spend on social sector and increase the reach of targeted sections with more precise estimates. Recently, the Limca Book of Records appreciated the government for successful completion of the survey within a day.

The Government’s ambitious budget has been on track as far as state’s own revenue projections in the first full year 2015-16 and second year 2016-17, while the anticipated central assistance was significantly lower and it managed to control its expenditure accordingly.

By Gudipati Rajendera Kumar