Telangana round-up of 2020

Coronavirus outbreak

So far, Coronavirus infection in Telangana has claimed 1,518 lives. Until December 22, 2020 - around 2,82,347 cases were registered and 2,74,260 were recovered from the virus. The cumulative number of coronavirus tests conducted in Telangana until now is 65,20,993.

Irrigation Project

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on May 29 released water from Kondapochamma Sagar Project, the highest point in Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) Kondapochamma is one among the aggregation of several projects, which is called Kaleshwaram. The project will provide irrigation water to a total of 2,85, 280 acres which include 1,06,953 acres in Siddipet, 39,102 acres in Sangareddy, 82,040 acres in Medak, 38,953 acres in Yadadri-Bhongiri and 18,232 acres in Medchal-Malkajgiri district

Schemes

Telangana government launched Rythu Vedika programme to address the issues faced by farmers. The programme was launched at Kodakandla mandal of Jangaon district. The government plans to construct around 2,601 Rythu Vedikas in the state out of which 1,580 were completed. Each Rythu Vedika will have two rooms and two toilets constructed in 2,046 sq feet.

Dharani Portal launch, an online portal which acts as a single platform for accessing all records related to lands in the state. It was formally launched on October 29 in Mudu Chintalapalli of Medchal Malkajgiri district. The one-in-all, registration portal has been designed to reduce loopholes in the registration process. One can register their property, succession and also the partition of agriculture lands and the owner will be provided with e-pattadar passbook, once the registration is done.

Strategic Road Development Programme (SRDP)

From flyovers to elevated corridors, bridges and underpasses, the GHMC's strategic Road Development Programme (SRDP) gave a facelift to Hyderabad.

Biodiversity junction flyover (level-1), Bairamalguda RHS flyover, Kamineni LHS and RHS flyovers, Punjagutta steel bridge, LB Nagar LHS flyover. Underpasses at Ayyappa society, Chintalkunta and at Mindspace.

The four-lane elevated corridor from Road no. 45 Jubilee Hills to Durgam Cheruvu has been constructed under SRDP.

Durgam Cheruvu cable-stayed bridge has also been constructed under SRDP to reduce the travel time between Jubilee Hills and Hitec City. The 238-long bridge is constructed at a cost of 180 crore. Besides, facilitating smooth traffic flow, the bridge also attracts tourists for its unique style and scenic beauty.

Floods

Parts of Telangana including Hyderabad witnessed floods after heavy rains in the state. The state has seen a massive crop loss with the incessant rains damaging crops in the districts like Warangal and Khammam. Meanwhile, citizens of Hyderabad also suffered extensive damage due to the rains and subsequent floods.

Crime

Although the crime rate dipped in Telangana this year compared to 2019. Some of the incidents that garnered the public attention include nine murders in Warangal and kidnap and murder of a nine-year-old boy from Mahabubabad.

In the first case, around nine migrant labourers were killed by a 25-year-old man who is also a migrant worker. The accused identified as Sanjay Kumar Yadav laced sleeping pills in the food at a party and threw the persons into well after they fell unconscious. The murders took place at Gorrekunta village of Geesukonda Mandal. However, he was arrested later and the first additional district and sessions court in Warangal convicted Sanjay Kumar Yadav and awarded death sentence.

In another case, a nine-year-old boy identified Deekshith Reddy was kidnapped and murdered by a 23-year-old mechanic, Manda Sagar. The accused strangled the boy to death and later burnt his body. Deekshith's father Ranjith works in a local TV channel.

GHMC election

It turned to be successful year for Bharatiya Janata Party which won in 48 divisions, the highest after the ruling TRS party which bagged 56 seats. The remaining 45 seats were won by AIMIM party.

The BJP also won in Dubbak by-elections after the party's candidate Raghunandan Rao won with a majority of 1,079 votes against TRS candidate Solipeta Sujatha.