Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said that irrigation and education hold the key to pushing Telangana’s position upwards on the global map. Incited by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of the country, who launched huge universities and irrigation projects in this country, he said the state should accord priority in these sectors.
Reddy opined that educational development should encompass research on mineral wealth. He advocated the identification of abundant minerals and setting up more institutions on the lines of Singareni at Palvancha.
The Earth Sciences University at Bhadradri Kothagudem was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday. After inaugurating a pylon, he addressed the students, Congress members, and the public at the university grounds. Reddy pointed out that during Singh's regime as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, the country had crossed economic hurdles and attained high levels of welfare and development.
Reddy mentioned that Telangana came into being during the regime headed by Dr. Singh. He said naming the Earth Sciences University after Singh honors his role in fulfilling Telangana's long-standing aspirations. He added that Khammam district is a Congress stronghold, and its people supported the party in recent elections.
The Chief Minister recalled that when farmers in the region gave land for the Kothagudem Thermal Power Station, local people did not receive adequate employment opportunities. This was one of the factors that contributed to the Telangana movement and the eventual formation of the State. Reddy said naming the university after Dr Singh is a privilege.
Reddy explained that the government, following the vision of Nehru, is establishing integrated Gurukuls and medical colleges in every constituency. He said pending irrigation projects will be completed to bring water from the Krishna and Godavari rivers to cultivate fallow lands in Khammam and Bhadradri districts.
He criticized the erstwhile regime for having neglected projects like the Sitarama project. Reddy claimed corruption affected these projects, as a result, water did not reach the fields. He said that providing funds to Khammam district is his responsibility.
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said that naming the Earth Sciences University after Dr. Singh is a recognition of his contribution to the formation of Telangana. He said even though the Bharat Rashtra Samithi had ruled for ten years, no government scheme was named after Singh. Minister Vakiti Srihari and MPs and MLAs Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy, Porika Balaram Nayak, and Kunanneni Sambasiva Rao joined the function. They said they would support more development with the blessings of the people.
