Uttam slams KCR for non-implementation of ITIR project

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has strongly criticised Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for the non-implementation of Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) project on Hyderabad's outskirts.

Addressing a press conference in Shamshabad on Saturday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the ITIR was approved by the then Congress Governments of erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh and at the Centre. This was endorsed by the present TRS Government and Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, in his first address to the Telangana Legislature on 11th June 2014 had said, "The face of IT sector would be transformed in Telangana with the implementation of the prestigious ITIR in Hyderabad. In all, Rs. 2.13 lakh crore investment would be channeled into various units in the State opening 52 lakh employment opportunities for our youth, directly or indirectly over the next 10 years."

This was repeated by the Governor in his second address to the Telangana Legislature on 7th March 2015 in which he said, "The Government of India has cleared ITIR project with investment potential of Rs. 2.19 lakh crore generating 15 lakh new jobs."

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the ITIR project had all clearances and only needed implementation to create nearly 50 lakh jobs. However, even after three years, neither TRS Government in Telangana nor BJP Government at the Centre, moved a bit to implement the project. To hide this failure, he said, IT Minister K. Tarakarama Rao is writing letters to the Centre seeking clarity. "Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao himself had praised the ITIR project on several occasions including a public meeting at Chevella. He simply failed to implement the project which could have provided jobs to lakhs of unemployed youth. TRS Government maintained status quo on ITIR. No funds were spent, no investments were attracted and not a single job was created out of ITIR," he said.

The TPCC chief pointed out that the previous Congress Government had developed Ranga Reddy district into a major investment destination. Several projects, especially in the IT sector were initiated in the Ranga Reddy district. Several areas like Shamshabad were brought on the global map through major projects like the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. However, TRS Government has completely neglected Ranga Reddy district and halted all the development works, including those which were cleared by the previous Congress regime like ITIR project," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said KCR had supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his decisions like demonitisation and GST and also supported the BJP’s candidates for President and Vice-President’s posts. However, he failed to secure justice for Telangana State, he said. He asked as to why KCR did not pressurise PM Modi for funds for ITIR project which could have transformed lives of lakhs of jobless youth in the State. “Chief Minister owes an apology and explanation to the people of Ranga Reddy on his failure to start the ITIR project,” he said.

The TPCC chief also ridiculed KCR's fresh promise of providing 84,000 jobs. "These are not new jobs being created by the TRS Government. They are vacant posts which existed at the time of formation of TRS Govt in the new State. KCR failed to fill the existing vacancies in the State Government. Having stayed idle for over three years, the Chief Minister is now making announcements as if he was creating new jobs," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said TRS Government not only failed to fill existing vacancies in government departments, but also stalled projects which could have generated lakhs of jobs. "KCR is answerable to unemployed youth for his failure to provide them jobs," he said.

When asked for reaction on Congress MLA Komatireddy Venkatreddy's remarks against AICC Secretary R.C. Khuntia, the TPCC Chief refused to comment on the issue and said that the matter was being dealt by the Congress High Command.

Earlier, Uttam Kumar Reddy offered special puja at Shanishwara Temple in Mandapally. He said he had prayed for good rainfall, prosperity of Telangana and return of Congress party to power in the State. Congress senior leaders including P. Sabitha Indira Reddy, Dr. Mallu Ravi, Dr. Sravan Dasoju, A. Sampath Kumar, Karthik Reddy, Kyama Mallesh and others were also present.