Cabinet approves two instalments of DA, plans measures to tackle drought
State Cabinet decided to convene an all-party meeting soon and hold consultations with farmers’ associations and experts from different sectors before finalising the mitigation measures as the State recorded a rainfall deficit of about 17% during the monsoon, which ended on Wednesday, the Minister for Information Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said
The State Cabinet in Telangana has approved releasing two batches of Dearness Allowance (DA) to government employees and pensioners, as announced by Minister for Revenue, Housing and Information and Public Relations Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The decision comes amid the ongoing El Niño conditions and a 17% rainfall deficit during the monsoon season, which led to a state-wide water crisis.
The Cabinet also formed a sub-committee to evaluate immediate measures for affected areas and plans to hold consultations with farmers' associations and experts before finalizing mitigation strategies.
The additional DA release will impose an annual financial burden of approximately ₹2,500 crore on the State government, but Chief Minister Revanth Reddy committed to approving it, following promises made during recent discussions with employee unions. The Cabinet also decided to procure paddy during the kharif season and expanded its power generation plans to meet the increased demand caused by the El Niño situation.
The proposed renewable energy projects and power storage capacity total around 7,800 MW, including 3,000 MW of solar power, 4,000 MW of battery energy storage systems, and 800 MW of wind power.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved the development of a world-class integrated fruit market in Koheda, Rangareddy district, funded entirely by the government. They also reviewed and directed the cancellation of ten incomplete EPC irrigation projects and approved the suspension of these projects. Furthermore, the Cabinet adopted a special policy for digital media advertising in Telangana and sanctioned the position of Deputy Commissioner at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi, with four additional Group-I officers to assist the State government in the national capital.
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