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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Every child has the right to education': Union Minister Paatil lays foundation stone for redevelopment of 7 municipal school buildings in Surat
Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil on Monday laid the foundation stones for redevelopment of seven municipal school buildings, which will be equipped with the latest technology and facilities, in different parts of Surat. These schools fall under the state government's Schools of Excellence category. Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Paatil said, 'Every child has the right to education. Many students will benefit from these new schools, as the classrooms have been equipped with the latest technologies and facilities… I also studied in a municipal school for six years.' The schools marked for redevelopment are situated in South B zone (Kanakpur), Limbayat, Varachha A and B zones, and Rander zone. Appreciating the 'innovative education system' implemented by Surat Municipal School Board, Paatil said, 'Surat is the fourth fastest developing city in the world with different development projects being carried out by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC). Surat is moving ahead with the pre-planning for the next 50 years. Within a short period, people in Surat will get facilities like Bullet train and Metro train.' At the event organised at an SMC Primary School at Pardi Kande in Surat city, the minister stressed on the importance of water conservation at homes to realise the motto of 'Water is Life' and 'Water is Tomorrow'. Paatil said children should be taught the importance of water conservation from an early age. Surat City mayor Daxesh Mavani and Choryasi BJP MLA Sandeep Desai along with officials of the Surat Municipal School Board were present on the occasion. Mavani said, 'Generally, there is a trend among the parents to get their children educated in private schools. However, here in Surat, there is a reverse trend, where parents are shifting their children from private schools to municipal schools. The reason is the good percentage obtained by students in Class 10 and Class 12 exams. On the lines of private schools, municipal students are also given training in robotics, coding, drones, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for a better future.' There are approximately 362 municipal schools in Surat catering to around 2 lakh students — the highest number in the state. Sources in the Surat Municipal Education Board said that this year, around 48 schools in the state have been approved for 'Schools of Excellence' category by the state government. These schools will have larger classrooms, computer training rooms, multipurpose halls, and laboratories. Of these 48 schools, foundation stones for redevelopment work for 10 such schools were laid in construction will be carried out at a cost of Rs 35.47 crore and the work is supposed to be completed by year-end. In the interim, students of schools undergoing redevelopment have been transferred to other municipal schools. Notably, with Surat being home to a large number of migrants drawn towards its diamond, textile and chemical industries, the SMC runs several schools imparting education in Gujarati, English, Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, and Marathi. This year, the overall pass percentage of municipal school students in the state board exams was 96% for Class 10 and 94% for Class 12, said Mavani.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy urges Chandrababu Naidu to scrap RLIS, allow completion of Telangana irrigation projects; slams K Chandrasekhar Rao for ‘neglecting' Mahabubnagar
HYDERABAD: Chief minister A on Friday said if Andhra Pradesh CM was sincere about equal development of both Telugu states, then he should scrap the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS) and allow to complete irrigation projects in Palamuru (erstwhile Mahabubnagar district). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Addressing a public meeting in Kollapur in Nagarkurnool district, Revanth reminded Naidu that some projects in undivided Mahabubnagar district were started when the latter was the CM of united Andhra Pradesh. "Meeru Vignulu (learned person). Come forward and cooperate, allowing Telangana to complete the Palamuru Lift Irrigation Scheme, Dindi, Kalwakurthy, Bima, Nettempadu and Koil Sagar projects. All these projects began either when you (Naidu) were the CM of the undivided state or leader of the opposition," Revanth said. Stop RLIS aimed at taking away 3 TMC water daily. How far is it justified on your part to oppose these projects now? I am requesting the AP CM not to oppose these projects and be responsible. Allow us to live. Let us complete our projects, Revanth said in reference to their meeting convened by the Union Jal Shakti ministry to resolve river issues . Revanth said people of Palamuru never forget favours and would always hold Naidu in high regard if he cooperated. "If Naidu doesn't cooperate, Palamuru biddalu (children) know how to fight and achieve their rights, and Revanth would lead that fight," the CM said. During his over one-hour speech, Revanth mainly targeted former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao for his comments that he ( ) was pained to see people suffering under Congress govt. Listing out the schemes of the Congress govt for women, farmers, youth and others, Revanth asked KCR if he was pained because these sections were reaping the fruits of welfare projects. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Revanth said KCR betryaed the people of Palamuru who stood by him when he had contested from the Mahabubnagar Lok Sabha seat for the cause of Telangana. "KCR did not complete any project in the district. What has KCR done for this district in his nearly 10-year rule?" Revanth asked. He added: "KCR, your pain is going to continue till 2034 as the Congress is going to be in power for 10 years. There is no relief for you. The pain will further engulf you, making you cry more. KCR, whether you are pained, or you jump into the well or immolate yourself or your children resort to it, the Palamuru bidda (Revanth) is going to be the CM for 10 years, and this district will lead the state administration." "My only wish is that you come to the assembly so that we can expose the injustices done by you to this district and you break down in repentance after listening to the good work being done in this prajala palana," Revanth said. The CM said it was his responsibility to complete all the projects in the district and transform it from being a migration-prone area to a model district which rules Telangana. Revanth reiterated that the govt will fill another 40,000 vacancies by June 2026, taking the total recruitments to one lakh in two-and-a-half years of Congress govt. Prior to the public meet, the CM offered prayers at a temple, laid the foundation stone for Young India Integrated Residential School.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
No harm in meeting Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu to resolve Telangana issues: A Revanth Reddy
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy defended his meeting with Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, emphasizing the importance of dialogue for resolving state issues. Speaking in Delhi, Reddy questioned why Telangana should avoid engaging with the central government on state matters. H YDERABAD: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday attacked those who criticised his amicable meeting with his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu a day earlier. "How will issues be resolved if we do not attend meetings?" he asked. "Who will advocate for Telangana's concerns? Why should we abstain from engaging with the central govt on state matters? I also intend to meet with the Maharashtra chief minister regarding the Tummidi Hatti issue." Speaking to reporters in Delhi, he asserted he does not fear any opposition and that the interests of the state were more important to him. Revanth and Naidu had met in the national capital along with Union Jal Shakti minister C R Patil. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The CM added that previous chief ministers of both states, K Chandrasekhar Rao and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, too had met and their meetings had been characterised as successful. He accused BRS of seeking out controversies, citing an instance where KT Rama Rao (KTR) reportedly met AP minister Nara Lokesh on three occasions secretly. He questioned the necessity of such clandestine meetings, contrasting them with his own transparent approach.
The Wire
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Meeting of Andhra, Telangana CMs Ends in Stalemate as Key Issue in River Basin Linking Project Sidelined
Government Convened by Union Jal Shakti minister C.R. Patil in Delhi, the meeting was a sequel to Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy's complaint over the proposal of Andhra Pradesh constructing the Godavari-Banakacherla project. Hyderabad: A meeting of the chief ministers of the sister states Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, N. Chandrababu Naidu and A. Revanth Reddy, respectively, was convened by Union Jal Shakti minister C.R. Patil in New Delhi on Wednesday (July 16), amidst high hopes of addressing a ticklish river basin linking project between the states. However, it ended in a whimper as a discussion on the issue was sidelined. Instead, it was decided to leave it to a committee of engineers and officials to study pending proposals for projects in both states and suggest a way forward in 30 days. The Jal Shakti ministry will constitute the committee with representatives from both states. Wednesday's meeting was a sequel to Reddy's complaint to C.R. Patil when he met him in Delhi on June 19 over the proposal of Andhra Pradesh constructing Godavari-Banakacherla project – which was given national status by Union government – to link the waters of Godavari river from Polavaram to Penna river basin via Krishna basin for irrigating the chronic drought hit Rayalaseema region of the state. Reddy had complained that Telangana would lose considerable share of water in Godavari if the project was sanctioned. He had also expressed anguish that projects of Andhra Pradesh were getting immediate approval while proposals of Telangana were overlooked. He blamed it on the close rapport enjoyed by Chandrababu Naidu with the Union government as a key partner of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance. So, the Union minister promised to invite both the chief ministers to sort out the issue. A day earlier, Revanth Reddy convened an all party meeting in Hyderabad where there was broad consensus authorising the state government to take all steps to stall the Godavari-Banakacherla project. After the meeting was scheduled at the instance of Patil today, the Andhra Pradesh government had written to the ministry to include discussion on the controversial project as the sole item on the agenda. This was protested by Telangana arguing that there could be no discussion as it lacked the statutory clearances from the Central Water Commission, Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and the Apex Council constituted under the reorganisation Act. Moreover, the expert appraisal committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forest had rejected the pre-feasibility report of the project. The project also violated the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award of 1980 and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014 by proposing to alter water allocations and project operations with the consent of co-basin states. A letter written by Telangana chief secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao to the ministry noted that the proposal for diversion of 200 thousand million cubic (TMC) feet of "flood water" from Polavaram was unilateral and fundamentally altered the operation schedule of Polavaram project and impacted the water rights of Telangana. Earlier, the Telangana irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy shot off another letter to Patil over the injustice to Telangana by keeping in pendency irrigation projects of the state on Krishna and Godavari rivers. On the other hand, the Andhra Pradesh government was allowed to proceed with a lift-irrigation project for Rayalaseema from the bed of Srisailam reservoir despite a stay given by the National Green Tribunal. He demanded a reservoir on the lines of Polavaram for Telangana at Itchampally with a capacity of 200 TMC ft. The proposal of Andhra Pradesh for Godavari-Banakacherla project received not only political backlash but also stormy debates in civil society of Telangana. It was argued that Andhra Pradesh made a false claim to utilise flood waters which was a fictitious name given for non-existing water availability. What Andhra Pradesh was trying to project was average water over a 40-year timescale. Former advisor to Jal Shakti ministry Sriram Vedire gave a presentation saying the annual runoff of Godavari at Polavaram as per the gauze station of central water commission (CWC) for 57 years from 1966-67 to 2022-23 was about 3,000 TMC ft. The average flow of 3,000 TMC ft into the sea included the unutilised assured waters at 75% dependability allocated to the upstream states of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Telangana. It also included spills from projects of upstream states. The 75% dependability referred to water available for three out of four years for planned utilisation of a project and its success in irrigating the command area for three out of four years. Sriram said that the CWC, in its reports of 2018 and 2023, denied availability of surplus water in Godavari at 75% dependability. The runoff water of 3,000 TMC ft into the sea was frequently highlighted by former chief minister and Bharat Rashtra Samiti supremo K. Chandrasekhar Rao while stressing the need for more projects on Godavari in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This was the butt of criticism by Revanth Reddy saying Rao mortgaged the interests of Telangana with Andhra Pradesh when Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy was its CM. The Congress and BRS traded charges against each other over conception of Godavari-Banakacherla project in the context of Rao's demand to exploit the 3,000 TMC ft for mutual benefit of both states. In the background of raging controversy over the project, Wednesday's meeting of Naidu and Revanth Reddy in the presence of Patil assumed significance. But, the meeting skipped any discussion on the project, Reddy said at a press conference later. He said what was decided was the installation of telemetry stations from all water offtake points in Krishna river to quell doubts of both governments about over usage of water by each other. He said that the Andhra Pradesh government will undertake repairs and restoration of Srisailam dam on Krishna which is under its administrative control. The need for repairs to the dam was also stressed by the National Dam Safety Authority. Reddy added that it was also decided to locate the office of GRMB in Telangana and that of KRMB in Andhra Pradesh. Finally, the committee of engineers and officials will identify the river water issues of both States and suggest a way forward in 30 days. 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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Centre to form panel to resolve Andhra-Telangana water issues
The Union government on Wednesday decided to constitute a high-level expert committee comprising officials and technical experts within a week to resolve pending inter-state water issues related to Krishna and Godavari river projects between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Centre to form panel to resolve Andhra-Telangana water issues The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil with Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu, along with irrigation ministers of both states at Shram Shakti Bhavan in New Delhi. 'To address the remaining issues in a comprehensive and technical manner, it was decided to constitute a committee,' the Jal Shakti ministry said in a statement, adding the committee will collaboratively assess outstanding issues and recommend equitable and technically viable solutions. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Revanth Reddy said both states decided to form a committee of officials and engineers to deliberate on water disputes. 'The committee's report will guide future action,' the Telangana CM said. While Andhra Pradesh irrigation minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said his government had submitted a written proposal to the Centre on the controversial Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP), the Telangana CM said the issue did not come up for discussion at all. 'The Polavaram-Banakacherla project issue wasn't part of the agenda. So, the question of having a discussion on the issue and debating its cancellation did not arise,' the Congress leader said. 'The meeting went on in a cordial manner and the outcome was in favour of Telangana… Some people want conflicts between the states. But our agenda is to resolve disputes peacefully, not to provoke fights.' The meeting also saw agreement on installing telemetry instruments at all off-take points along the Krishna river and its canals to measure the exact quantity of water being drawn by both the states. 'We requested the Centre to support telemetry installation due to doubts about Krishna water usage. Even if the Centre does not fund it, the Telangana government will allocate funds. The previous government showed no urgency, but we've now decided to move forward,' Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said. Both states also agreed that the Godavari River Management Board will be headquartered in Telangana, while the Krishna River Management Board will be based in Andhra Pradesh, he said. His Andhra Pradesh counterpart Ramanaidu said: 'This committee will draft a roadmap to provide justice to both states. Though governed by different parties, we are Telugu people and must work together.' He added that Andhra Pradesh had agreed to take steps for the protection of Srisailam project. 'The meeting discussed the need to take up repairs and safety measures. The Centre will act based on the expert committee's recommendations,' Ramanaidu added. The TDP leader said that Andhra Pradesh had submitted its proposal on the Polavaram-Banakacherla project which would utilise only surplus water flowing into the sea. 'We presented 100-year flow averages in the river, noting that 3,000 TMC of Godavari water enters the sea annually, and the project would divert only 200 TMC,' he added. The NDA-led Andhra Pradesh government said the project would not harm upper riparian states and urged Telangana and the Centre to understand its position being a lower riparian state. It also emphasised that the state had not opposed any Telangana project in the last 11 years.
