Latest news with #Irrigation&CivilSupplies
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Paddy procurement crossed 50 lakh tonnes: Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar
HYDERABAD: Irrigation & Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday stated that the ongoing paddy procurement has crossed 50 lakh metric tonnes (LMT). Paddy procured during the corresponding period in 2023, when the BRS was in power, was 25.35 LMT, he said. The minister held a review meeting with district collectors and other officials at the Secretariat virtually. Ministers Thummala Nageswara Rao, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Ponnam Prabhakar also joined the video conference. After the meeting, Uttam posted on X: 'I am happy to announce that we have now crossed 50 LMT of paddy procurement in Yasangi (Rabi) season. On the same day, 15 May 2023, during the previous regime, the total paddy procurement in Yasangi was 25.35 LMT.' During the review meeting, comparative data was presented to underscore the scale of improvement over the previous years. After analysing the figures, the minister pointed out that in the Rabi 2022–23 season, paddy procurement stood at 25.35 LMT, which increased to 32.93 LMT in Rabi 2023–24. 'This year, in the ongoing Rabi 2024–25 season, procurement has reached 49.53 LMT by mid-May, a historic high and a clear reflection of the Congress government's commitment to farmers,' he said and pointed out that lower procurement levels and inadequate infrastructure had caused operational delays and dissatisfaction among farmers in Rabi 2022–23.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Will join combat if reserved forces are called upon: Uttam
Former Indian Air Force fighter pilot turned politician and now Irrigation & Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has declared that he is ready to return to combat if the country ever needed the services of the reserved forces. A fighter pilot, who once flew MiG-23s, spoke candidly on Friday about his IAF sting and referred to the current tensions between India and Pakistan. Speaking to reporters at Gandhi Bhavan on Friday, Mr. Uttam recalled having joined the armed forces at the age of 16 years and by 1982 he was flying MiG-21s, and later got behind the controls of the MiG-23 — a jet so fast it could hit speeds more than twice the speed of sound. 'I was just 20, already a fighter pilot,' he said referring to his postings in Air Stations in Uttar Pradesh, Srinagar, and Amritsar — areas that have long been on the edge when it comes to national security. He termed the April 22 incident a terror attack backed by Pakistan and slammed the killings, especially those carried out in the name of religion. 'India had every reason to hit back,' he said, referring to the recent military response. Mr. Uttam also touched on Operation Sindoor, claiming Rafale jets and Kamikaze drones were deployed from within Indian territory as part of the mission. He argued that such strong responses are crucial if India ever hopes to achieve a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue. 'Personally, I believe the Kashmir conflict won't truly end until India takes back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,' he said without hesitation. According to Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy, the assault on Jammu left India no choice but to respond — and any continued aggression from across the border could spell disaster for Pakistan. 'No other nation is going to step in with military support,' he noted. And if it comes down to war? Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy's message was clear: 'If there's a full-scale conflict and I'm needed — I'll fight again.'
