Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of North East G. Kishan Reddy on Tuesday said the Centre is ready to bring many development projects to Telangana provided the State government shows the alacrity to allot necessary land and funds.
Addressing a press conference at the party office along with MLA T. Raja Singh, he said the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) global centre for traditional medicine was moved to Jamnagar in Gujarat because the place already has an Ayurvedic university and the government there was ready with the necessary infrastructure.
“The WHO officials too were keen on starting the facility soon with the readymade infrastructure facilities of land, buildings and staff. If there are plans to open any subsidiary units, Hyderabad will definitely be considered,” he explained to a question.
The Minister, who is also Secunderabad MP, sought to blame the TRS government for not responding to the official communication from his own ministry to allocate land for this project and many others. “I had personally written to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to provide 25 acres for the proposed ‘Science City’ as it would benefit students and scientists alike but there is no response. We sought land for setting up a Sainik School in Warangal and released ₹ 1 crore for Tribal museum out of the estimated total cost of ₹18 crore, yet there has been no ,” he complained.
He further stated that the MMTS Phase – II is ready for commissioning “if the government shows initiative to release its quota of funds” and the plans to extend the same upto to Yadadri too have been finalised as also the railway link between Kothagudem and Bhadrachalam. These works can be taken up if the government releases funds, he said.
Metro Rail phase one construction too has been stopped at the MGBS, Imlibun, when the actual plan was to take it into the Old City upto Falaknuma with the Centre allotting the Viability Gap Funding to an extent of ₹1,250 crore, he reminded.
“The Centre is dependent on States for land allotment. The political climate has become so vicious that the government wants to criticise the Centre for not doing anything for Telangana, especially after the Huzurabad bypoll defeat. My appeal is, please make use of what has come. We are also interested to develop Telangana in all aspects,” said Mr. Reddy. About not being invited for the inauguration of the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, he said it is an ancient religious shrine and he does not need any invitation to visit it.
