KHAMMAM: Independence Day proved to be a significant day for Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who made headlines by releasing ₹5,644.24 crore as the third tranche of the Rs 2 lakh crop loan waiver scheme. This release marks a milestone in the Congress party's promise to waive farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh within eight months of coming to power. The state government has committed to waiving loans for approximately 32.5 lakh farmers at a total cost of ₹31,000 crore. However, farmers with loans exceeding Rs 2 lakh will have to wait longer for relief.
In addition to the loan waiver, Revanth Reddy inaugurated the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project (SRLIP) in Pusugudem, Bhadradri-Kothagudem district. He announced that the SRLIP would be completed by August 2026 and would provide irrigation water to seven lakh acres in the erstwhile Khammam district.
Following these events, Revanth Reddy is set to travel to Delhi for a two-day tour to meet representatives from the Foxconn group and top Congress leaders.
In his address at Wyra, the Chief Minister highlighted that Telangana is the only state to have deposited ₹18,000 crore directly into farmers' accounts within 27 days. He also criticized BRS leader and former minister T. Harish Rao, urging him to resign as an MLA or publicly apologize if he had any sense of shame.
Revanth Reddy outlined plans to supply 32 tmcft of water from the Munneru river to Khammam farmers through gravity canals and discussed the construction of a 15 tmcft reservoir in Dornakal constituency. He also took aim at the BRS party, criticizing its leaders for their unchanged attitudes despite not winning any seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
He accused the BRS of severely damaging the state's financial system during its 10-year rule, leading to the Congress government now bearing a monthly interest burden of ₹6,500 crore. He claimed that the BRS government's delay in completing irrigation projects resulted in increased costs, with the Sitarama project now estimated to cost ₹18,000 crore compared to the original ₹1,500 crore for the Rajiv Sagar project.
Revanth Reddy also alleged that the BRS government mishandled funds and engaged in corruption, with improper expenditures on pump houses and motors.