Telangana Cabinet To Meet On Aug 14 For Land Pooling Policy And Welfare Expansion

The Telangana Cabinet is scheduled to meet on August 14 in Hyderabad to approve a new land pooling policy aimed at infrastructure development and clear the expansion of major welfare schemes across the state.

Under the proposed land pooling policy, the state government plans to replace the forced land acquisition process with a more participatory model. Landowners will receive 60 per cent of fully developed plots in exchange for pooling their land. Government agencies, including the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and TGICC, will retain the remaining 40 per cent share to mobilize resources and execute various infrastructure and development projects.

In addition to the land policy, the Cabinet is set to approve significant expansions to existing welfare programs. The state currently provides monthly pensions to around 41 lakh beneficiaries and expects to sanction pensions for an additional 2.25 lakh people.

The Cabinet is also expected to extend the Gruha Jyothi scheme, which supplies up to 200 units of electricity free of cost, to an additional three to four lakh families. Furthermore, under the Mahalakshmi scheme, another five lakh families are planned to be brought under the subsidised LPG cylinder program, which provides cylinders at an effective price of ₹500.

The upcoming meeting will also focus on legislative matters. The Cabinet is expected to finalize the schedule for convening a one-day special session of the Legislature, likely to be held on August 17 or 18. This session is planned prior to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's three-week overseas tour from August 20 to September 10, which will cover the UK, the US, China, and Germany.

During the proposed special legislative session, the government aims to pass a resolution seeking to reduce the minimum age for contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections from 25 to 21 years. The resolution will also seek a reduction in the minimum age for contesting Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections from 30 to 25 years.

In the Hyderabad Core Urban Region, the Cabinet is expected to approve calling for tenders for the construction of Indiramma Towers to provide flats for Low Income Group (LIG) categories. Key decisions regarding the launch of Musi rejuvenation works and the Gandhi Sarovar project works are also slated for approval during the meeting.