NEW DELHI: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, urging the immediate release of ₹11,713.49 crore to repair and restore infrastructure damaged by recent heavy rains in the state.
Reddy informed Shah about the devastating impact of the heavy rains between August 31 and September 8, which resulted in the loss of 37 lives and over one lakh livestock, officials said. The CM highlighted significant crop losses and extensive damage to roads, culverts, causeways, tanks, ponds, and canals.
He reminded the Home Minister of a prior request made on September 2, seeking ₹5,438 crore for restoration efforts. Reddy further pointed out that a central team had assessed the damage and submitted a report on September 30, estimating total losses at ₹11,713 crore. He emphasized the insufficiency of currently available funds and requested immediate financial assistance.
While acknowledging the Centre’s release of ₹416.80 crore as part of the first and second instalments of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for the fiscal year 2024-25, Reddy asked that the restoration funds be provided separately from the SDRF allocations, assuring full utilization of the allocated SDRF funds.
Additionally, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of state security, particularly given Telangana's borders with Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, regions affected by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE). He requested the establishment of CRPF Joint Task Force (JTF) camps in Kondavai village of Charla Mandal, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, and Alubaka village in Venkatapuram Mandal, Mulugu district.
Reddy also sought the release of ₹18.31 crore, which has been pending for four years as the central share of payments for Special Police Officers (SPOs). He further requested the relaxation of norms to allow for the inclusion of 1,065 personnel in the SPO force.
In addition to flood relief, the Chief Minister raised unresolved issues related to the bifurcation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He urged Shah to work towards resolving disputes over government buildings and corporations listed under Schedule 9, as well as institutional disputes under Schedule 10. Reddy also requested the protection of Telangana's rights concerning assets and institutions not explicitly mentioned in the bifurcation law but claimed by Andhra Pradesh.