Hyderabad: The Telangana Cabinet on Friday approved the Telangana Auto Rickshaw Electric Conversion Scheme, allocating ₹200 crore to help convert petrol and diesel autorickshaws in Hyderabad into electric vehicles.
Under the scheme, eligible auto drivers will receive a subsidy of up to ₹1.5 lakh per vehicle. They can either retrofit their existing autorickshaw with an electric kit or scrap it and purchase a new electric autorickshaw.
The Cabinet noted that Hyderabad currently has 18,766 petrol and diesel autorickshaws. The initiative is aimed at reducing pollution in the city.
The Cabinet also extended the deadline for the Hyderabad Industrial Lands Transformation (HILT) policy by three months to October 31. The policy seeks to relocate polluting industries within city limits to areas on the outskirts.
The Cabinet discussed preparations for the Telangana Rising Global Summit 2.0, scheduled to be held in December. December 7, 8 and 9 have been proposed as tentative dates.
A subcommittee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka and comprising Ministers Sridhar Babu, Uttam Kumar Reddy and Vivek Venkataswamy will oversee the preparations.
The summit will be held under the theme ‘Invest Telangana’ and will focus on investment opportunities in the defence, aerospace and pharmaceutical sectors. The Future City Plan is also expected to be unveiled at the event.
The Cabinet decided to promote the cultivation of seven types of small grains during the monsoon season. Officials have been directed to create awareness among farmers through gram panchayats and farmer forums.
Farmers will receive a bonus of ₹500 for these grains from this year.
The Telangana government has procured 81.16 lakh metric tonnes of Yasangi, or rabi, paddy at the minimum support price this year, which ministers described as an unprecedented achievement.
Of the total procurement, the Centre will purchase 63.62 lakh metric tonnes. The remaining 17.54 lakh metric tonnes will be sold through e-auction at a base price of ₹2,389 per quintal.
The Cabinet approved the inclusion of industrial training institutes, advanced technology centres and polytechnic colleges in the state under the Young India Skills University. These institutions were earlier administered by the Department of Technical Education.
It also approved the construction of Young India Integrated Residential School complexes in Adilabad, Nirmal, Mudhol, Boath, Sirpur, Gajwel and Dubbaka constituencies.
The government plans to establish such school complexes in 113 constituencies during the first phase. With the seven schools approved on Friday, permissions have now been granted for 86 complexes.
The Cabinet sanctioned ₹2,100 crore for Phase II of the Makthal-Narayanpet-Kodangal lift irrigation project. The project is expected to meet irrigation, drinking water and industrial requirements for nearly one lakh acres.
It also approved the appointment of a consultant to study solar power generation and assess the expansion of the Gudem Doddi pumped-storage project. The project’s capacity is proposed to be increased from 1.19 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) to 15 TMC.