Accusing previous Congress and TDP governments of indulging in corrupt practices and irregularities, Finance Minister Eatala Rajender alleged that the former resorted to loot public money. Participating in the State government’s flagship programme “Mission Kakatiya” for restoration of lakes, water bodies and ponds at Sultanabad in Karimnagar district, Rajender attributed the unabated suicides by the farmers to the lopsided policies of the previous governments.

He slammed Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for needlessly criticising Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for no fault. Eatala alleged that Congress leaders had indulged in illegal occupation of prime lands besides emptying the exchequer. Lakhs of houses constructed under Indiramma Housing Scheme did not reach the poor and the money was pocketed by Congress leaders when in power, he charged.

However, the 10-month old TRS government has kept its poll-eve promises besides coming up with many welfare schemes for the people and farmers, he claimed. Rajender said the TRS government was committed to welfare of the poor and farmers. “We have waived off about Rs 17,500 crore as part of farm loans and will do so in the near future”, he said. For the implementation of the welfare schemes alone, the State government allotted Rs 4,200 crore and will further earmark another Rs 200 crore, he added.

The Finance Minister appealed to the people and farmers to participate in the Lake Restoration Programme to get their farm lands irrigated. “Unless the farmers involved in the Lake Restoration Programme, they would not get water for their crops”, he said, adding that use of silt from the lakes and ponds will be useful as organic fertilisers and help avoid fertilisers and get bumper crop.