Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka highlighted the State government’s welfare and development programmes in Khammam district during Praja Palana Dinotsavam celebrations. He said the government had completed 1,000 days of administration in line with people’s aspirations.
Bhatti unfurled the national flag at the Police Parade Ground in Khammam and greeted the district’s people. He said the Telangana region became part of India on September 17, 1948, and entered an era of democratic governance. He added that the integration of princely states had unified the country.
The Deputy Chief Minister said people had a responsibility to remember the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom. He said the government gave priority to the welfare of poor families, farmers, women, youth, students, senior citizens and weaker sections. It was combining welfare and development with the well-being of every family as its goal.
Bhatti said women in Khammam district had made 6,39,31,602 free RTC bus journeys. These journeys saved them Rs 343.44 crore. Under the Mahalakshmi gas scheme, 2,45,233 beneficiaries received 18,69,122 cylinders at Rs 500 each. The government bore a subsidy of Rs 93.45 crore.
Under Gruha Jyothi, 2,49,454 families received free electricity. The government provided a subsidy of Rs 257.22 crore to families consuming up to 200 units.
Farmer welfare remained a major priority, Bhatti said. Under Rythu Bharosa, 3,41,913 farmers in Khammam district received Rs 427.96 crore. Crop loans of 1,31,760 farmers were waived, providing relief worth Rs 912.61 crore.
Under Rythu Bima, 7,619 farmer families received Rs 380.95 crore. The government procured 2,83,956.397 metric tonnes of maize from 44,568 farmers and paid Rs 681.49 crore. During Yasangi 2025-26, it procured 14,62,411.60 quintals of paddy from 20,085 farmers.
For the paddy procurement, Rs 346.82 crore was directly deposited into farmers’ accounts. Meanwhile, the government accelerated irrigation projects across the district.
The Sitarama Lift Irrigation Scheme and Paleru Link Canal would create new irrigation potential across 1,38,790 acres. The government allocated Rs 107.651 crore for the Munneru-Paleru Link Canal. It also allocated Rs 630.30 crore for the Jawahar Lift Irrigation Scheme.
The Kodumuru-Vandhanam Lift Irrigation Scheme had the capacity to irrigate 5,000 acres. A trial run of the Manchukonda Lift Irrigation Scheme was successfully completed to provide water to 2,412 acres. The government also took up a Rs 525.36 crore flood protection wall to safeguard Khammam city from Munneru floods.
Bhatti said Khammam district had 126 substations and another 41 had been sanctioned. The government also sanctioned the first indoor substation in Khammam city at Rs 6.5 crore. It introduced the “Polambata” programme to address farmers’ electricity problems.
Six electricity ambulances were available around the clock for emergency services. Telangana aimed to achieve 20,000 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. A 1 MW solar plant was inaugurated at Rajulapalem in Khammam district.
The government was installing rooftop solar systems and solar pump sets in 27 model solar villages. It also installed solar plants with a combined capacity of 1,768 KW in 379 government schools.
Bhatti said the government was transforming women’s self-help groups into an economic force. It provided Rs 394.80 crore in bank linkage loans to 4,008 women’s groups. Another 555 groups received Rs 16.36 crore in Stree Nidhi loans.
In addition, 52,059 groups received Rs 57.15 crore in interest-free loans. In the first phase at Madhira constituency, 125 Indira Mahila dairy units were taken up with Rs 2 crore. Women’s groups also stitched and distributed uniforms to 67,976 students.
The government was creating entrepreneurial opportunities for women through petrol pumps, solar plants, buses and dairy activities. These initiatives were intended to increase women’s participation in economic activity.
Under the first phase of Indiramma housing, 16,597 houses were sanctioned in Khammam district. Of them, 11,427 houses were completed, while beneficiaries received Rs 491.8 crore in financial assistance. Another 251 houses had so far been sanctioned under the second phase.
Bhatti also outlined initiatives in school education. The breakfast programme covered 27 lakh students in government schools. In Khammam district, 66,882 students were enrolled through the Badi Bata programme.
Khammam secured first place in the State in foundational literacy and numeracy. The district also secured fifth place in the Performance Grading Index. Its 21 government junior colleges had 5,989 students, and free breakfast was introduced in these colleges this year.
Young India Integrated Schools were being established in Khammam, Paleru, Madhira, Wyra and Sathupalli constituencies. Steps were also underway for a government ITI in Khammam. Madhira was getting a government ITI, polytechnic and Advanced Technology Centres.
The government was also taking steps to establish an engineering college in Madhira. Bhatti said these initiatives were part of efforts to strengthen education and skills.
Healthcare infrastructure was also being expanded as part of the government’s Healthy Telangana objective. Khammam district had 26 primary health centres, five urban health centres and nine Basti Dawakhanas. Free medical services were also available through 63 sub-centres and 161 Aam centres.
A 50-bed critical care building was completed at Khammam Government General Hospital at a cost of Rs 23.75 crore. Facilities included CT scan, 2D echo, ultrasound, ventilators and a cath lab.
A 100-bed Area Hospital was being developed at Wyra with Rs 37.50 crore. Another 100-bed hospital was being developed at Kusumanchi with Rs 45.50 crore. The Tirumalayapalem hospital was being upgraded to 100 beds at Rs 26 crore.
The government was also developing 50-bed hospitals at Mudigonda and Yerrupalem. Each project had an allocation of Rs 22 crore.
Under Cheyutha pensions, 1,81,828 beneficiaries received Rs 83.42 crore. Through the Ambedkar Overseas Vidya Nidhi, 13 beneficiaries received more than Rs 1.31 crore. The Best Available School scheme benefited 1,329 students.
Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak provided more than Rs 11.55 crore to 1,154 beneficiaries. The district had 21 school hostels and 11 college hostels for BC students. Tribal welfare educational institutions provided education to 5,004 students.
Tribal students recorded a Class 10 pass percentage of 94.92% during 2025-26. Bhatti also said Khammam district had 4,73,271 ration cards covering 13,36,126 beneficiaries.
Through 748 fair-price shops, more than 2.43 crore kg of free fine rice was distributed every month. Fine rice was also supplied to 1,46,074 students in government schools and hostels.
The district had 2,41,823 registered construction workers. From January to August this year, 4,301 workers received Rs 19.83 crore in welfare assistance.
Khammam also exceeded its plantation target during 2025-26. Against a target of 35.32 lakh saplings, the district planted 37.42 lakh. Measures for wildlife conservation included check dams, percolation tanks, solar pumps and water ponds.
The district created 197.63 km of fire lines during the past three years. Steps were also being taken to develop eco-tourism at Velugumatla, Neeladri and Puligundala.
The government began a land resurvey process in Telangana after nearly 96 years. In Khammam district, the resurvey was completed in three areas, followed by the preparation of records. The exercise would next be taken up in 70 villages in phases.
Mission Bhagiratha was supplying safe drinking water to 20 mandals and 915 villages in Khammam district. Drinking water was supplied through 1,408 overhead service reservoirs.
Development initiatives covering sanitation, drinking water, solid waste management, roads and streetlights were taken up in 571 gram panchayats. Development works worth Rs 31.73 crore were undertaken with 15th Finance Commission funds.
The government also estimated Rs 201.76 crore for 4,678 cement concrete road and drainage works. These projects formed part of broader efforts to improve rural infrastructure.
Praja Palana Dinotsavam highlights major road investments
Khammam district had 2,245.68 km of roads under the Roads and Buildings Department. Bhatti said 218 road works worth Rs 4,706.52 crore had been taken up. Another Rs 1,227.13 crore was allocated for 37 road works under the Hybrid Annuity Model.
The government allocated Rs 180 crore for the Munneru cable-stayed bridge. The four-lane Kodad-Khammam NH-365A road was completed at a cost of Rs 1,583 crore. Work on the Khammam-Devarapalli national highway was also completed.
Under the AMRUT scheme, drinking water works worth Rs 229.08 crore were taken up in Khammam city. The programme provided tap connections to 75,318 families and included the construction of 25 water storage tanks.
More than Rs 300 crore worth of development works were underway in Madhira town. The government also aimed to provide youth with jobs, skills, self-employment and industrial opportunities.
Under T-iPASS, 319 applications connected with 153 industries were examined. These proposals paved the way for investments of Rs 577.74 crore and the creation of 1,836 jobs.
Through T-IDEA and T-PRIDE, 211 industries received incentives worth Rs 18.02 crore. Under PMEGP, 155 self-employment units received subsidies worth Rs 5.50 crore. These units provided employment to 575 people.
The district employment office had 21,239 unemployed youth registered. Through 17 job fairs, 203 people secured private-sector jobs. Skill training centres trained another 1,918 young people.
The government was also using District Mineral Foundation Trust funds for mining-affected areas. Development works worth Rs 315.75 crore were taken up through DMFT. The funds supported education, healthcare, drinking water and infrastructure.
Sports infrastructure was also being strengthened. A synthetic athletic track was being developed at Sardar Patel Stadium in Khammam with Rs 8.50 crore. Mini-stadium works worth Rs 5.50 crore were underway in Madhira.
During 2025-26, athletes from the district won 24 medals at the national level and 314 at the State level. Bhatti said these achievements reflected the sporting talent of Khammam’s youth.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the government would continue Praja Palana in accordance with people’s aspirations. He said its approach would combine welfare with development while focusing on the well-being of families across the district.