Overview of economic infrastructure in Bangaru Telangana

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Economic Infrastructure
Infrastructure is a critical variable for investment consideration for companies. States are putting all efforts to improve infrastructure to attract investment which further spurs economic growth. Telangana is making strides to provide quality of infrastructure, by according high priority for irrigation, electricity and roads.

Irrigation
The State had suffered a serious insufficiency of publicly funded irrigation resources. Over a period of time, there has been a major shift in the pattern of irrigation from surface irrigation (mainly of tanks) to private wells. Over dependency on well irrigation resulted in adverse impact on environment and cost of cultivation etc. Government is making all efforts to reverse the present situation in irrigation. On the one hand Government launched a flagship program 'Mission Kakaitya' to repair and renovate existing tanks in the State.Telangana has large network rivers such as the Godavari, the Krishna, and the Manjeera. Government has given high priority to increase investment in construction of major irrigation projects utilising available State's water share.

Power
Availability of quality power is indispensable for improving living standards and the growth of economy. State Government aimed at providing at least 9 hour a day free power supply for agricultural purpose and uninterrupted power supply for industrial and domestic consumption. Government has commissioned 6 new power projects with the target of producing additional 6840 MW power to meet the future needs.

Roads
A well connected road network is essential for movement. Road is an important mode of transportation in the State. Two major programs undertaken by the Government, inter-alia, (i) improving connectivity between Mandals headquarters with District head quarters by widen roads from single lane to double lane, (ii) major district roads, state highways, core road network are being widened from single lane to double lane road to cater to the increased traffic.

Public Distribution System
Enactment of the National Food Security Act has changed the food distribution scenario in the State. The Act seeks to make the right to food a legal entitlement by providing subsidised food grains. In addition to the mandated converge under the Act, State Government increased the coverage by relaxing eligibility criteria and providing additional rice at a cheaper rate. As a result the coverage of public distribution system in Telangana is about 82 percentage of total State's population. In addition, as the prices of pulses went up in middle of 2015-16, Government of Telangana opened special counters for sale of redgram dal at a subsidised rate across the State. Government also initiated measures to strengthen the Public Distribution System by linking Food Security Cards with Aadhaar numbers.

Education
Provision of education and health will be another step towards empowerment of rural masses. Present government is planning to come up with a comprehensive and consolidated strategy to reform the public education in the State. “Free Education from KG to PG” is in the action plan of the State government. During 2015-16, state government has taken a decision to provide 'Free Education' to all the students studying in two years Intermediate Courses in Government Junior Colleges as a part of its commitment to provide free education from KG to PG.

To encourage higher education in minority communities, the government of Telangana introduced a new scheme of “Chief Minister’s Overseas Study Scheme for Minorities” for pursuing higher studies in post graduate courses in foreign universities from the year 2015-16. Government has introduced superfine rice (Sannabiyyam) in all the schools and colleges hostels which is expected to improve the stay of the hostellers.

Health Sector
Telangana has been faring rather poor in vital health indicators. To reduce Infant Mortality Rate in the State, Government launched 'Arogya Lakshmi' Scheme.The main objective of this scheme is to improve nutritional status among pregnant and lactating women and to reduce low birth weight and mortality of infants and children below 6 years. With a view to provide improved health services in Government hospitals, Government has taken up upgradation of Gandhi and Osmani General hospitals in Hyderabad, and construction of super speciality hospitals at district level in all districts.

Rural Development
Profile of rural areas may be a better indicator to emphasize the need for rural development in Telangana. 61 percent of the State population lives in rural areas. There exists a developmental gapbetween ruralareas and urban areas. For instance, rural literacy rate is 57 percent which is much below the urban literacy rate of 81 percent. Similarly, health indicators are poor in rural areas than in the urban areas.

Rural development with public participation has become the focus of the present government. Telangana government has come up with multi prong policy measures on all fronts to combat the problems associated with rural development. Two main programmes, GramaJyothiandTelanganaPallePragathiare launched. GramaJyothi scheme is aimed at empowering Gram Panchayaths for the holistic development of the Panchayats and for preparation of Village Development Plans for ensuring village growth with public participation, is a historical move taken by the present Telangana Government. Telangana PallePragathi, focuses on five components i.e., value chain development, human development, digital local government, ICT, TA & Partnerships, and Project Support to improve livelihood opportunities of poor rural households.
With a vision to supply potable drinking water to all habitations up to household level in the entire state, in line with National Strategic plan, state government has launched “Mission Bhaghiratha”also known as'Telangana Drinking Water Supply Project'. Objective of this programme is to (i) provide safe and portable drinking water at household level (ii) to provide water to industries to the extent possible through the same project to promote industrial growth. Being first of its kind, Mission Bhaghiratha has become role model for other states.

The Government of Telangana has given emphasis for providing sanitation facilities to the rural communities of the state in line with Swachh Bharat Mission,which to achieve a clean India by 2019. As a part of the program, construction of household toilets has been one of the priority areas of the state Government. State Government has underlined paramount importance of Individual Household Latrines to ensure privacy and safety to the women besides improving general hygiene. Apart from the construction of Individual Household Latrines, the State Government focuses on integrated sanitation i.e., Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) in all rural parts of the state.

Urban Development
About 38.88 percent of total State's population live in urban areas. State government is focussing on mitigating serious challenges with urban related issues like in-migration, increase in slums, and increased pressure on basic amenities like housing, roads, water supply, sanitation, solid & electronic waste management, pollution, electricity and other issues like health care and urban schooling in all urban areas, especially in GHMC areas.

For providing water to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation areas, Godavari Drinking Water Supply Project Phase-1is commissioned. Krishna Drinking Water Supply Project Phase –III is commissioned. 11 projects under JnURM are completed and are providing water supply and sewerage facilities in GHMC area.

Government of Telangana is committed to make all the cities and towns open defecation free, totally clean, sanitized, healthy, liveable for all the citizens under Swachh Bharath- Swachh Telangana programme. Basing on 2011 Census, Government proposed construction of 3.34 lakh Individual Households toilets in 68 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in 5 years.So far 14,508 IHHLs are completed and target set is to complete 30,000 by 31st March, 2016.

In order to mitigate the problem of pollution and increasing the ground-level water belt in GHMC areas, HMDA Urban Forestry wing and Buddha Purnima Project authority has taken up extensive plantation activities in the erstwhile Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority region. In addition, Development of Radial Roads, Development of infrastructure, Inter-city bus terminal, HussainSagar Lake and Catchment Area Improvement Project, Intelligent Transport System (iTS) in Hyderabad Metropolitan Area, are some of the important initiatives taken up for urban development.