Telangana to Continue ₹500/Quintal Bonus for Fine Rice Varieties in Kharif Season
The Telangana State Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, has decided to continue the ₹500 per quintal bonus for farmers who cultivate the seven prescribed fine rice (paddy) varieties during the current Vanakalam (kharif) season. The bonus will be in addition to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) assured by the government.
Farmers opting to grow these varieties must register with the Agriculture department to receive the bonus directly in their bank accounts.
The decision follows a record harvest in the Yasangi (rabi) season, with the state procuring 81.16 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. Of this, the Central Government purchased 63.62 lakh metric tonnes, leaving 17.54 lakh metric tonnes with the state. Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said the Cabinet has approved e-auction of the remaining quantity with MSP as the base price.
In a move to address pollution, the Cabinet approved a subsidy of ₹1.5 lakh each for converting 18,766 petrol and diesel autorickshaws in the Core Urban Region Economy (CURE) area into electric vehicles through retrofitting of battery-operated equipment.
The Cabinet also ratified the distribution of smart food security (ration) cards. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy will formally launch the programme on Saturday, August 15, marking Independence Day. The state will distribute over 1.04 crore cards covering 3.4 crore beneficiaries. District and in-charge ministers have been directed to carry out the distribution simultaneously in their jurisdictions. The number of beneficiaries has increased by 62 lakh from the earlier 2.8 crore after due verification, the Minister said.
Preparations for the second edition of the Global Investor Summit, themed 'Telangana Invest', were discussed. The summit will be held from December 7 to 9. A Cabinet sub-committee, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, has been constituted to oversee arrangements. The panel includes Ministers D. Sridhar Babu, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, and G. Vivek Venkatswamy, and will focus on showcasing opportunities in defence, aerospace, and pharma sectors to attract investments.
Administrative sanction of ₹2,100 crore was granted for the Makthal-Kodangal-Narayanpet lift irrigation scheme to expedite work. The Cabinet also decided to increase the capacity of the Gudemdoddi pumped storage project from 1.5 tmcft to 15 tmcft and appointed a consultant to study the project.
