Hyderabad: Irrigation and civil supplies minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Sunday announced that the distribution of fine rice (Sanna Biyyam) to white ration card holders would begin on March 30 and would be formally launched by chief minister A Revanth Reddy at Huzurnagar.
This move would benefit 84% of Telangana’s population, providing six kilograms of fine rice per person whose name is on the ration card each month.
The Congress govt is replacing the supply of coarse rice (Doddu Biyyam) with fine rice because the coarse variety was not being consumed by many beneficiaries and was being misused—resold or recycled and diverted to beer companies and poultry farms, he said.
“This fine rice distribution is a dignified, reformative step to protect public resources and ensure real food security for the poor. This fine rice supply scheme is a reflection of Sonia Gandhi’s vision for a hunger-free India,” he said.
Uttam, along with roads and buildings minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, MLA Padmavathi Reddy, among others, offered prayers at Jan Pahad Dargah in Huzurnagar assembly constituency.
Later, he participated in an Iftar programme in Kodad and Huzurnagar constituencies, where he reiterated the Congress govt’s commitment to secularism and minority welfare. Extending greetings to the Muslim community during the holy month of Ramzan, the minister said Congress has always stood for inclusive governance and harmony among all faiths.
Highlighting the govt’s proactive measures for minority empowerment, Uttam said the Congress-led govt has allocated 3,591 crore for minority welfare in the 2025–26 state budget — the highest allocation in the history of Telangana. The funds will be used to expand educational opportunities, improve infrastructure in minority areas, support religious institutions, and provide direct economic assistance, he said.
A major highlight of this allocation is the 840 crore earmarked for the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme, aimed at creating self-employment avenues for minority youth. The scheme will offer skill development, training, mentoring, and financial assistance to ensure that youth from marginalised communities become economically independent and socially empowered.
On irrigation, Uttam strongly criticised the previous BRS govt for allowing Andhra Pradesh to overdraw Krishna river water — 512 TMC out of 811 TMC — by expanding the Pothireddypadu head regulator and other projects.
He assured that the Congress govt would prioritise the completion of pending irrigation projects in the region, including Gandamalla, Brahmana Vellamla, Dindi, and Nellikallu schemes. He said all lift irrigation systems under Nagarjuna Sagar would be repaired and revived. Srisailam water would be redirected through its power station and then supplied to Nagarjuna Sagar to meet the state’s needs.
A high-level review meeting on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project will be chaired by CM Revanth on Monday. The minister clarified that the pause in SLBC works is only temporary and assured that the project would resume after the completion of the rescue operations.
