Page 13 - Telangana

T'gana in 2024: Caste survey begins, Allu Arjun in soup over fatal stampede

The first Congress government in Telangana kicked off implementation of its poll promises, including the path-breaking caste census, during 2024, but its ambitious projects of Musi river redevelopment and development of a 'future-ready city' on Hyderabad outskirts would not be easy as they require massive funds, besides posing other challenges in execution. The Telugu film industry whose fame soared following the success of mega films like 'RRR' came under pressure at home during the year in the aftermath of the 'Pushpa-2' stampede on December 4, where a woman was killed and her son seriously injured. At a meeting with Telugu cinema industry representatives post the Allu Arjun episode, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy made it clear law and order was supreme and that the movie world was no exception to it. The Congress government which assumed power last year, began implementation of the party's poll promises and 'guarantees', including Rs 21,000 crore crop loan waiver, besides the cas

Telangana CM Reddy meets Satya Nadella, seeks support for IT ecosystem

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday called on Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at his residence here and sought the IT major's support to develop a strong ecosystem so that Hyderabad is recognised as a leading city in the world in the technology domain. The CM thanked Nadella for Microsoft's regular investments and growth in the city and state, an official release said. Reddy and IT Minister D Sridhar Babu discussed various technology imperatives that Telangana is focusing on, including AI, Gen AI, and cloud, and sought Microsoft's support, it said. The CM also explained his plans for infrastructure development in the state, including the Regional Ring Road, radial roads, Future City, the development of new manufacturing clusters, and how the government is proposing to create a vast pool of industry-ready talent through institutions like the Young India Skills University. The Microsoft CEO reiterated the tech giant's commitment to partnering with the state government on a

Telangana's revenue receipts below expectations at Rs 1.03 trn till Nov

Telangana state's revenue receipts met only 46.7 per cent at Rs 1.03 lakh crore during the first eight months of the current financial year (till November), against the actual budget estimate of Rs 2.21 lakh crore, indicating probable financial stress in the coming months. According to the latest report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Telangana's finances up to November, the total receipts (Revenue and capital; receipts) achieved only 51.5 per cent to Rs 1.41 lakh crore against the budget estimated Rs 2.74 lakh crore. Non-tax revenues of the state took a beating with just 14.82 per cent (Rs 5,217 crore) against the target of Rs 35,208 crore impacting the overall performance. Capital expenditure stood at about Rs 21,000 crore, 62.2 per cent of the budgeted Rs 33,500 crore. The state government borrowed Rs 37,850 crore till November this year thus utilising 71.7 per cent of the budget estimates of Rs 49,255 crore. With just four months left in the financial year, it

ED summons BRS leader KT Rama Rao in money laundering case on Jan 7

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader KT Rama Rao and some others for questioning next month in a money laundering case linked to alleged payment irregularities during a Formula-E race held in Hyderabad in February 2023, official sources said on Saturday. The federal agency filed an enforcement case information report (ECIR) or FIR last week in the case under various sections of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), taking cognisance of a Telangana Police Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) complaint. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president and son of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, Rama Rao has been asked to depose for recording of his statement on January 7, the sources said. Senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar and retired bureaucrat and former Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) chief engineer BLN Reddy have been summoned on January 2 and January 3, respectively, they added. The probe against 48-year-old Ram

Allu Arjun appears virtually in theatre stampede case, files bail petition

Shortly after Allu Arjun was shifted to jail, the Telangana High Court granted him interim bail for four weeks (from December 13) and he was released from the jail on December 14

7-day mourning for Manmohan Singh; Karnataka, Telangana announce holiday

Karnataka and Telangana have declared holiday in honour of Manmohan Singh; Central government has announced 7-day national mourning with flags at half-mast and full state honours for the former PM

SC orders Telangana, BHEL to submit documents in Rs 35k cr irrigation scam

The probe comes in response to a PIL case accusing official and contractors or corruption in the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme

Allu Arjun, 'Pushpa' team announce Rs 2 cr aid for stampede victim's family

Actor Allu Arjun and makers of the film 'Pushpa' on Wednesday announced financial assistance of Rs 2 crore for the family of the woman who died in a stampede during the film's screening at a theatre here on December 4. Meanwhile, Telangana State Film Development Corporation (FDC) chairman and leading producer Dil Raju said a delegation of film personalities would call on Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday to foster healthy relations between the government and the film industry. Allu Arjun's father and veteran producer Allu Aravind, along with Dil Raju and others, visited a private hospital where a boy injured in the stampede is undergoing treatment. Allu Aravind expressed relief after speaking to the doctors, who informed them that the boy is recovering and can now breathe on his own. The doctors remain optimistic about his full recovery. He announced that Allu Arjun (Rs 1 crore), Pushpa production company Mytri Movie Makers (Rs 50 lakh), and the film's director

Express responsibly, avoid abusive language, behaviour: Allu Arjun to fans

Telugu cinema star Allu Arjun on Sunday appealed to his fans to not resort to any kind of abusive language or behaviour, both online and offline, amid fresh allegations against him in the Sandhya Theatre stampede case. A 35-year-old woman died and her eight-year-old son was injured on December 4 during a stampede-like situation at the cinema hall in Hyderabad when thousands of fans jostled to have a glimpse of the actor at the premiere of his recent release "Pushpa 2: The Rule". Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday alleged that Arjun visited the theatre during the film's screening despite police permission being denied, a charge that the actor denied. On Sunday, Arjun shared a word of caution for his fans on social media. "I appeal to all my fans to express their feelings responsibly, as always and not resort to any kind of abusive language or behavior both online and offline," he said in a statement posted on X. "Misrepresenting as my fans with fake IDs and fake

Allu Arjun attended screening despite police saying no: CM; actor refutes

Despite police permission being denied, top Telugu actor Allu Arjun attended the theatre where 'Pushpa-2' was screened on December 4, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy charged on Saturday. Even after the death of a woman in a stampede, the actor did not leave the cinema hall, prompting the police to force him out, CM alleged. Responding to the issue after AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi raised it in the Assembly, Reddy, referring to videos in circulation, found fault with Allu Arjun for holding a roadshow and waving to the crowds in spite of the heavy crowd. Reddy further said the theatre management gave a letter to the police on December 2 seeking security for the visit of top actors and others on December 4. However, the police rejected the application, citing difficulties in crowd management. Before entering the theatre and exiting, the actor stood through the sunroof of his car and waved to the crowds leading to thousands of fans jostling to get a glimpse of him, he said. H

Telangana urges Centre to simplify IT slabs, reduce corp tax for biz ease

Telangana on Friday urged the Centre to simplify the Income Tax slabs and reduce corporate tax rates to enhance ease of doing business. In his speech at the pre-Budget meeting of the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said streamlining IT and GST filing processes is vital as these processes currently consume weeks for mid-sized and large businesses. Expanding the tax base through digital tracking of financial transactions and encouraging voluntary compliance are also key measures, he opined. "Reforms to the Income Tax Act are a welcome step. India's current tax system is complex, leading to compliance burdens for individuals and businesses alike. Telangana urges simplification of tax slabs and reduction of corporate tax rates to enhance ease of doing business," Bhatti said. Telangana supports a realistic fiscal deficit target of 4.5 per cent of GDP to sustain momentum in infrastructure and ...

BRS leader K Kavitha lays foundation stone of 'Telangana Talli' statue

She emphasised that Telangana Talli inspired them and gave them courage during the Telangana movement

98% of Telangana govt's socio-economic caste survey complete: CM Reddy

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday said that 98 per cent of the caste survey undertaken by the state government has been completed. Describing the survey as a "mega health check-up" for Telangana society, the Chief Minister said the data collected would enable the ruling Congress to ensure "better representation" of the Kuruma community in panchayats, as well as in the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, proportional to their population. He was speaking after inaugurating the 'Doddi Komuraiah Kuruma Bhavan' here. The Telangana government's socio-economic, employment, political, and caste survey, which was an election promise by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, began on November 6. Amid criticism from the BRS regarding the unveiling of a new design for 'Telangana Thalli' (Mother Telangana), distinct from the one used by the regional party, Reddy defended the Congress-led government's design. He said it symbolises a "typical mother" carrying crops grown in ...

T'gana taking steps to provide quality food in welfare schools: CM Reddy

Accusing the previous BRS regime of 'failing' to take steps to provide basic facilities in state-run social welfare residential schools, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday said his government has now increased allocation of funds by 40 per cent to improve the quality of food served to students. Speaking after launching a 'common diet plan' for all government residential schools and hostels in the state at Chilkur near here, he said the state government is moving ahead with the resolve that quality facilities should be provided in the welfare residential schools. He said 'diet charges' (allocation of funds for food) have not been enhanced in the last eight years. "The previous government did not think of increasing it. That means, the then government did not give importance to diet charges, cosmetic charges or provision of basic facilities. Because of that, the residential schools have lost their prestige," he said. The government has now increased the 'diet charge

'Am a law-abiding citizen, will cooperate': Allu Arjun walks out from jail

After spending the night in a local prison after being arrested in connection with the death of a woman in a stampede during the premiere of his latest film, , actor Allu Arjun walked out of jail on Saturday following an interim bail granted by the Telangana High Court. Arjun had to spend Friday night in prison despite the HC relief, as the authorities had not received a copy of the bail order until late last night. "He has been released," Ashok Reddy, his counsel, told reporters at the Chanchalguda prison. Reddy claimed the prison authorities did not release the actor despite having got the High Court order copy. "You should question the government and the department why they have not released the accused. The High Court order is very specific. Forthwith, the moment you (prison authorities) receive the order, ( they should) release him. Despite the clear order, they have not released, they have to answer. This is an illegal detention. We will take legal steps, Reddy said. Accord

What is Telangana Thalli and why did its redesign spark controversy?

The new image of Telangana Thalli (Mother Telangana) features a green saree, omits the crown, pot, and jewellery, and instead displays an open palm, it gestures the Congress party's symbol

Lenskart plans to build largest eyewear manufacturing facility in Telangana

The Gurugram-based eyewear firm has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Telangana government to establish the facility at Fab City

TSPSC Group 2 2024: Hall Ticket announced today at official website

The Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) will release the hall tickets for the Group 2 Examination 2024 today, December 9, at official website, www.tspsc.gov.in

NGT issues notice to environment ministry over Hyderabad pharma unit blast

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Hyderabad regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change and others on the blast at a pharmaceutical company in Hyderabad last month that left one dead and three others injured. The green body was hearing a matter where it had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of a PTI report published on November 21 titled 'One dead, three injured in reactor blast at pharma company in Hyderabad.' In an order dated November 28, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "The news item relates to a flash fire triggered by a reactor blast at a pharmaceutical company in Hyderabad, resulting in the death of one man and injuries caused to three others. As per the article, the incident occurred while the four workers were repairing the reactor." The bench also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel said the news item did not indicate whether steps h

T'gana govt aims to make 10 mn members of women SHGs crorepatis: CM Reddy

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday said his government is moving ahead with plans to make one crore members of women self-help groups (SHGs) "crorepatis" by involving them in various business activities. Speaking after the inauguration of the "Indira Mahila Shakti Bazar" of women SHGs here in the evening along with Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Reddy said his government is implementing various schemes for the welfare of women, including free travel for them in state-run buses, supplying LPG cylinders for Rs 500, free power supply up to 200 units for the poor, stitching clothes for students and "Indira Mahila Shakti" canteens. The government is also allotting solar power plants to SHGs, he added. The total number of members in SHGs at present is 65 lakh and it should become one crore, the chief minister said. "It is your responsibility to make it one crore. It is my responsibility to make one crore (women) crorepatis," he said. Next year, he would visit the 10 undivi