
Bhatti takes stock of flood prep in Khammam, Kothagudem districts
Attendees included Khammam District In-charge Minister Vakati Srihari, Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, as well as district Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and other public representatives.
The Deputy Chief Minister assured that solar pump sets, sprinklers, drip irrigation systems, and horticultural crops would be provided free of charge to farmers under the ROFR Act through the Indira Giri Jal Vikasam scheme, with a total expenditure of Rs 12,600 crore planned over three years.
However, it was noted that some MLAs are delaying the submission of proposals for Roads and Buildings (R&B) and Panchayat Raj roads. The government has prepared a budget of Rs 20,000 crore for constructing all roads.
The Deputy Chief Minister clarified that there is no shortage of urea, assuring farmers that they need not worry. He emphasized that the Indiramma housing scheme will be remembered as a significant achievement.
Additionally, he urged authorities to develop plans for raising fish fry through women's groups in every district. He stated, 'We warmly welcome Vakiti Srihari as the district in-charge minister. His experience, having started his career as a public representative in local bodies, will be invaluable for the development of the joint Khammam district.'
The meeting acknowledged that, so far, the Godavari floods are at a normal level, and no danger warnings have been issued. However, flood relief measures should be initiated by all authorities, and life jackets must be readily available. A control room should remain operational until the end of the rainy season.
As part of Vana Mahotsav, useful plants should be distributed to the community, benefiting everyone. Officials were directed to provide information regarding the number of plants planted over the last ten years, the costs associated with planting them, and the survival rate of those plants.
In a major panchayat, detail the number of plants planted in the past ten years, the costs incurred, the survival rate, and the steps that should be taken to ensure their survival. A complete study should be conducted as part of a pilot project, with all relevant details provided.
On the education front, he highlighted the need for integrated schools to be established on 25 acres, with all integrated schools serving as role models. Welfare and Gurukul students should receive meals according to a set menu, with no compromises on quality. Additionally, continuous medical check-ups should be conducted for students throughout the rainy season.
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Indian Express
8 minutes ago
- Indian Express
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What was initially seen as a major setback is now viewed by exporters as 'a de facto trade embargo'. The blow comes at a particularly cruel time when Tamil Nadu's textile belt was preparing for a rebound in US orders. Tiruppur, Coimbatore, and Karur collectively employ over 1.25 million workers and export Rs 45,000 crore worth of garments annually. Just weeks ago, optimism surged on the back of the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and growing US interest in Indian goods due to elevated tariffs on China (125%-145%) and Myanmar (40%). Many exporters in Tamil Nadu had invested in new machinery to meet the expected surge. That hope is now turning into despair under the weight of retaliatory tariffs, especially with respect to China, which is now at 30% and could see a further downward revision once Beijing inks a deal with Washington DC. 'This is a setback,' said K M Subramanian, president of the Tiruppur Exporters' Association (TEA). 'Standalone exporting companies will be hit first. 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'This isn't just about one tariff hike – its compounding an already weak environment,' Selvaraju said, pointing to India's 11% import duty on cotton and a GST duty inversion that further hurts competitiveness. 'Polyester raw material is taxed at 18%, yarn at 12%, but finished garments are taxed at 5%. This adds 6-7% to export costs, while competitors don't have such inverted duties.' Meanwhile, the quality of cotton imports from Brazil, which make up 45% of this year's inbound shipments, is under scrutiny for not always meeting US-mandated standards. Selvaraju has urged the Centre to negotiate a cotton-forward deal, offering duty-free access to US cotton in exchange for apparel exports made from it. The global textiles market is highly competitive; India's key rivals face no such punitive hikes. Bangladesh continues with an effective rate of 35–36%, Pakistan has successfully negotiated a 19% tariff, Vietnam is at 20–21%, and Cambodia, though previously at 49%, now enjoys a 19% rate after an August 1 revision. By comparison, India's 50% penalty rate is not only isolated but unprecedented. One Tiruppur manufacturer admitted his shipment was lost to Pakistan. 'They seem to have offered a better price,' he said. 'The order slipped.' Subramanian reiterated that Bangladesh remains India's fiercest rival in the US market. 'Their 20% rate means they're much cheaper, significant when your margin is about 5%.' This margin has now all but vanished. With total duties touching 64%, non-branded US buyers are already shifting to cheaper options. 'They shift overnight,' Subramanian warned. Industry leaders are urging for immediate policy relief. 'The government had then provided an extended credit guarantee-linked scheme,' Selvaraju recalled, referring to pandemic-era support. 'It's time to bring that back.' He also pressed for eliminating the 11% cotton import duty and restructuring the GST regime on manmade fibres. 'For our exports to remain viable, tax on all raw materials must be below 5%.' If ignored, the consequences will be stark. Indian suppliers could lose permanent ground to Bangladesh, Cambodia as well as Vietnam and Pakistan – all of whom now enjoy cheaper landed prices in the US. The ripple effect – order shrinkage, idle capacity, and job losses – is already underway. 'The US market still wants to buy from us,' Selvaraju said. 'They like Indian cotton, the Indian make. But political and policy hurdles are pushing them away.' Ramdas, a mid-sized factory owner in Tiruppur, said the next two to three weeks will be decisive. 'We haven't seen cancellations yet, but the tone is changing. Everyone's cautious.' Yet, there is cautious hope. Subramanian believes this downturn could still be survived if India moves quickly. 'We got through Covid. We will get through this,' he said. 'We are talking to the Central government. We are urging negotiations with the US.' Some exporters also hope that pressure from big American brands – worried about higher retail prices – might eventually force a rethink in Washington.


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an hour ago
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Time of India
an hour ago
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