From barren Telangana to development model for India in less than decade: KCR

HYDERABAD: Seeking people's blessings to continue delivering welfare schemes, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said Telangana was pulled out of the morass of drought and starvation to attain all-round development in just nine-and-half years.
Echoing the slogan - What Telangana Does, Nation Follows - the chief minister said, the state made giant strides in a short span due to the BRS government's vision, commitment and intellectual support.

Unfurling the tricolour at Golconda Fort on Independence Day, the chief minister said, the state tops the country in per capita income and power consumption.
After formation of Telangana, the state government enforced financial discipline that led to wealth formation and uplift of the poor. The youngest state of the republic surpassed big states with a per capita income of Rs 3.12 lakh, he said. KCR elaborated on Telangana's rapid growth in various sectors under untenable conditions after achieving statehood.
"When we recollect the plight of Telangana 10 years ago, it was heart-wrenching. The region conjured up a picture of barren land, dry ponds and rivers, depleted groundwater, regular power cuts, farmer suicides, weavers dying in despair, starvation deaths and largescale migration for livelihood in other states. Today, Telangana is shining with 24x7 power supply and bumper crops with irrigation facilities. Water bodies are brimming even during summer. Streams and check dams are overflowing. The Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme was a big achievement. Everyone is astonished at Telangana's unprecedented progress in a decade," the CM said.
He said under BRS rule, the farming sector clocked substantial development and is now competing with Punjab for the numero uno position in paddy production, while mentioning that Palamuru RangaReddy Lift project was delayed due to litigation by Opposition leaders.
"The government will construct irrigation canals as soon as the major hurdle to the project is removed. The government will soon start pumping water to reservoirs for drinking water needs in the next few days," said KCR.