Hyderabad: Telangana Government Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir said the government had approved ₹2,278.14 crore for a joint-user airfield in Adilabad. He said the Adilabad airport project would boost connectivity, investment, employment and tourism across northern Telangana.
Shabbir Ali spoke at the Telangana Praja Palana Dinotsavam celebrations in Adilabad on Thursday. He attended the programme as the State Government’s chief guest.
He hoisted the national flag at the Police Parade Ground after receiving a guard of honour. District Collector Rajarshi Shah and SP Akhil Mahajan attended the programme. Elected representatives, officials and members of the public also participated.
Addressing the gathering, Shabbir Ali recalled the events of September 17, 1948. He said the erstwhile Hyderabad State had joined the Indian Union on that day. The development had ended the Nizam’s rule and marked the beginning of democratic governance, he said.
He also stressed the role of public participation in democratic administration. He said gram sabhas, ward sabhas and local bodies provided avenues for people’s participation.
Adilabad airport project forms part of infrastructure push
Detailing the Adilabad airport project, Shabbir Ali said the government had started acquiring 2,009.23 acres for the joint-user airfield. The government had accorded administrative approval of ₹2,278.14 crore for the project.
He said the airport would improve transport connectivity. Moreover, it would support industries, investment, employment and tourism in the region. The government was also taking steps to establish an industrial park across 2,062.01 acres in Boraj mandal. Meanwhile, the ₹40-crore IT Tower at Mavala was ready for inauguration.
Shabbir Ali also outlined major irrigation initiatives in Adilabad district. He said the government had taken up works worth ₹2,023 crore for the Lower Penganga project. These works also covered the Chanaka-Korata pump house and canal network.
Additionally, the government was implementing plans to irrigate 35,000 acres through the main canal. It had also taken up the Pippiri, Tejapur and Buggaram lift irrigation schemes for ₹141.07 crore.
During the current Vanakalam season, 1,61,121 farmers had received ₹327.92 crore under Rythu Bharosa. Furthermore, the government had extended ₹34.30 crore to the families of 686 deceased farmers under Rythu Bima.
Cotton procurement covered 16.28 lakh quintals from 1,03,600 farmers in the district. The government had also extended procurement support to soybean, Bengal gram and jowar. Housing programmes had reached thousands of beneficiaries across Adilabad. Shabbir Ali said the government had sanctioned 21,767 Indiramma houses during the first two phases.
Beneficiaries had started constructing 14,948 houses, while they had completed 3,968 houses. The government had directly transferred ₹337.06 crore to beneficiaries. In addition, 934 double-bedroom houses at Mavala and KRK Colony were ready for distribution to eligible families.
Adilabad airport project accompanied by welfare initiatives
Later, Shabbir Ali attended welfare programmes at Gayatri Gardens in Adilabad as the chief guest. The government organised the programmes as part of the Praja Palana Dinotsavam celebrations.
He distributed sanction letters to beneficiaries selected under the second phase of the Indiramma housing scheme. He also handed over sanction letters and cheques to beneficiaries under the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes.
Additionally, Shabbir Ali distributed spectacles to students under the Arogya Pathashala programme. He said the government was working to deliver housing, education, healthcare and other welfare benefits to eligible people.
Shabbir Ali said 1.06 lakh eligible consumers had benefited from free electricity under the Gruha Jyothi scheme. The government had paid ₹104.57 crore to the power utility for the benefit.
Women had also benefited from free RTC travel under the Mahalakshmi scheme. Moreover, 1.02 lakh eligible women had received LPG cylinders for ₹500. The government had provided subsidies worth ₹23.66 crore for the initiative.
On healthcare, Shabbir Ali said the government had spent ₹10.96 crore on treatment and surgeries for 4,388 Aarogyasri patients. The expenditure covered the current financial year.
The government had also sanctioned ₹40 crore for a new nursing college building. Additionally, it had sanctioned ₹41.70 crore to upgrade hospitals at Utnoor and Boath.
Education projects also formed part of the district’s development programme. Shabbir Ali said the government was developing Young India Integrated Residential Schools at Adilabad, Utnoor and Boath. The projects carried an estimated outlay of ₹200 crore.
Meanwhile, Adilabad district had recorded a 96.90% pass rate in SSC examinations. As many as 67 students had secured seats at IIIT Basara.
Shabbir Ali also highlighted programmes for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and minorities.
Under minority welfare programmes, 100 women had received ₹50 lakh under the Indiramma Minority Mahila Yojana. Similarly, 10 beneficiaries had received bikes with assistance of ₹10 lakh under the Revanthanna Ka Sahara scheme.
The government had also distributed sewing machines to 453 women.
Adilabad MLA Payal Shankar attended the welfare programme along with District Collector Rajarshi Shah and SP Akhil Mahajan. Municipal Chairman Anusha, Library Chairman Narsaiah and ATMA Chairman Santosh Rao also participated.
Market Committee Chairman Srikanth and Additional Collectors Chitru and Rajeshwar attended the programme. Local public representatives, officials, women and beneficiaries were also present.
Shabbir Ali said the government had simultaneously pursued development and welfare programmes. He added that it was working to ensure eligible people across Adilabad received benefits from its initiatives.