The Telangana Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, passed several crucial resolutions today concerning infrastructure, electoral law, and energy planning.
SLBC Tunnel Resumes with Advanced Drilling
Work on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel is set to resume following its halt after an accident in February. The Cabinet confirmed that the remaining 9 km of the 44 km tunnel will be completed using advanced drilling methods, replacing the original tunnel-boring machines. This change ensures the project continues without posing any environmental threat to surrounding forests or wildlife. With 35 km already completed, the government has set a new target to finish the critical project by June 2028. The existing contract and estimated cost remain unchanged.
Two-Child Norm for Local Polls Removed
In a major electoral reform, the Cabinet approved the removal of the two-child restriction for candidates contesting local body elections. This decision repeals Section 21(3) of the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018. Since the Assembly is currently prorogued, the change will be immediately implemented via an Ordinance, which will be sent to the Governor for approval. This allows individuals with more than two children to participate in local polls.
Major Overhaul and Expansion for Energy Sector
The Cabinet initiated a significant revamp of the state's power infrastructure by directing the Energy Department to:
Develop a 10-year forecast of power demand and propose strategies for capacity expansion.
Receive in-principle approval to establish 1,500 MW of Battery Energy Storage Units (BESU) across the state, with the department tasked to finalize locations and detailed plans.
Approve the decommissioning of the old 62.5 MW RTS-B unit at the Ramagundam Thermal Power Station, which has completed its 52-year operational life.
Expediting Hospital Infrastructure
In a push for public health infrastructure, officials were instructed to expedite the completion of four major hospitals:
Warangal Super Specialty Hospital
LB Nagar TIMS
Sanathnagar TIMS
Alwal TIMS
BC Reservations and Poll Quotas Deferred
The Cabinet addressed the issue of Backward Classes (BC) reservation in light of recent High Court and Supreme Court judgments. It decided to proceed as per legal advice but deferred a final decision on quota and local body election-related matters until its next meeting on November 7, pending further clarity from the courts.
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