Cabinet approves two installments of DA, plans measures to deal with drought

Telangana Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. File | Photo credit: RAMAKRISHNA G

The state cabinet has approved the release of two pending payments of care allowance (DA) to government employees and pensioners, Revenue, Housing and Information and Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said.

“The cabinet has also decided to set up a sub-committee to look into immediate measures to be taken in areas affected by El Niño conditions. It has also decided to convene an all-party meeting soon and consult with farmers’ associations and experts from various sectors before finalizing mitigation measures. The state government would also seek the Centre’s help and seek the declaration of drought-affected areas,” he added.

Briefing the media after Thursday’s Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at the Secretariat, the minister said two DAs would be immediately released from the arrears pending from 2024, while the remaining arrears would be settled in installments.

“Releasing the DA will impose an additional annual financial burden of about ₹2,500 crore on the state government. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has decided to release the DA despite the financial burden, in line with the assurance given during recent discussions with the employee unions,” he said.

The cabinet also discussed the El Nino conditions and deficient monsoon in the state. Mr. Srinivasa Reddy said Telangana recorded a rainfall deficit of about 17% during the monsoon that ended on Wednesday. The Cabinet has also decided to make arrangements for the purchase of paddy fish during the kharif season.

Regarding power supply, Mr. Srinivasa Reddy said that electricity consumption has increased significantly under the prevailing conditions. The state’s peak demand reached a record 19,892 MW against 16,613 MW recorded last year. According to him, the normal daily consumption was around 15,000 MW.

“The cabinet decided to procure adequate power to meet demand and prevent blackouts. It also approved proposals to support new renewable energy generation and energy storage capacity with projects totaling about 7,800 MW,” he added.

The proposals include 3,000 MW of solar power, 4,000 MW of battery energy storage systems and 800 MW of wind power.

The cabinet also decided to expedite the establishment of a world-class integrated fruit market at Koheda in Abdullapurmet mandal of Rangareddy district. The market is to be developed exclusively from state funds.

It further reviewed long-pending projects and directed officials to cancel pending projects under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) scheme. As part of the exercise, the Cabinet approved the suspension of 10 EPC irrigation projects.

The cabinet also approved a special policy for digital media advertising in Telangana in line with the digital advertising guidelines formulated by the Central Bureau of Communications.

It sanctioned the post of Deputy Commissioner in the Office of the Resident Commissioner in Telangana Bhavan, New Delhi. Four more Group I officers will also be appointed to work on behalf of the state government in the state capital.

Published – 01 Oct 2026 21:56 IST