Telangana to issue 4.4 lakh ration cards in 15 days

The State Cabinet has decided to immediately issue ration cards to 4,46,169 eligible beneficiaries whose applications are pending with the government. The authorities concerned have been instructed to complete issuing of cards within the next 15 days.

During a marathon meeting which lasted for about six hours at Pragathi Bhavan on Tuesday, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao also directed Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and District Collectors to complete the procurement of about 84 lakh tonnes of paddy for the Yasangi season immediately.

Further, a Cabinet Sub-Committee has been constituted to suggest solutions to problems being faced in the Public Distribution System, including enhanced commission to ration dealers. Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar will chair the sub-committee with Ministers T Harish Rao, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, P Sabita Indra Reddy, and A Indrakaran Reddy as members.

The State Cabinet also reviewed the preparedness of the Agriculture Department for the Vaanakalam crop season and appreciated the steep rise in the cultivation area under several irrigation projects in the State, including the Kaleshwaram project. It



also expressed happiness over achieving a yield of about three crore tonnes of paddy, which was cultivated in about 1.06 crore acres during the Vaanakalam and Yasangi seasons together last year. The Cabinet congratulated Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy, officials and staff of the department for their efforts in this regard.

In the 2,601 agricultural clusters, the Cabinet directed Agriculture Extension Officers (AEOs) to be accessible to farmers by functioning from Rythu Vadikas. They should advise farmers on crop cultivation besides preparing them for the Vaanakalam season.

The Union of Ministers also appreciated Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Talsani Srinivas Yadav, officials and staff of the department for their outstanding work in the areas of fisheries and sheep farming.

The Cabinet also approved the establishment of ‘Telangana Special Food Processing Zones’ (TSFPZ) in the erstwhile nine districts, excluding Hyderabad district. It directed the authorities to take immediate steps to set up rice mills and also food processing industries in not less than 250 acres each.