Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Appeals for Central Flood Relief Funds
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has formally requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to release ₹11,713.49 crore for the repair of infrastructure damaged by recent floods, without tying this assistance to the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Reddy highlighted that the state had only received ₹416 crore against an initial request of ₹10,320 crore.
In addition to flood relief, Reddy urged Shah to allocate 29 additional Indian Police Service (IPS) positions to Telangana, pointing out that only 76 officers were assigned during the state’s bifurcation. He also called for a reassessment of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) allocations, specifically requesting the re-inclusion of Adilabad, Mancherial, and Kumaram Bheem Asifabad as districts affected by left-wing extremism (LWE).
After attending a meeting with Shah in New Delhi focused on strategies to combat LWE, Reddy provided a detailed account of the extensive damage caused by heavy rains from August 31 to September 8. This period resulted in 37 fatalities, significant livestock losses exceeding 100,000, and the destruction of crops across approximately 4.15 lakh acres. Critical infrastructure, including roads, culverts, ponds, and canals, also suffered substantial damage.
Reddy reminded Shah of his prior letter dated September 2, in which he requested an initial release of ₹5,438 crore for urgent repair efforts. A central assessment team had evaluated the damages and submitted a report on September 30, estimating total losses at ₹11,713 crore. Despite this, Reddy pointed out that the Centre’s allocation of ₹416 crore was inadequate for the necessary repairs.
Emphasizing the urgency of the situation, Reddy urged Shah to expedite the release of the required funds for restoration efforts. He asserted that the funds for reconstruction should not be contingent upon previous SDRF expenditures, assuring that the SDRF funds would be utilized within the current financial year.
As the state grapples with the aftermath of the floods, Reddy’s appeals reflect the pressing need for adequate financial support to rebuild and restore essential infrastructure in Telangana.
