Hyderabad, March 8 (NationPress) In an exciting announcement, Telangana's Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy revealed on Sunday that the state is preparing to distribute electric scooters to female college students. Speaking at the Women’s Day celebrations, he noted, "While it may not materialize within this financial year, we are committed to rolling out electric vehicles for college girls in the near future."

This initiative was part of the Congress party's promises during the 2023 Assembly elections, pledging to provide electric scooters to every girl student aged 18 and above.

Despite the passing of two years, the opposition parties have criticized the Congress government for failing to fulfill this commitment.

In his address, the Chief Minister emphasized the government's efforts to promote a pollution-free Hyderabad. He announced the introduction of a zero-tax policy for electric vehicles.

Reddy pointed out that 2,500 diesel buses operated by the Road Transport Corporation contribute to pollution levels in Hyderabad and pledged that these would be replaced by electric buses by December.

He compared Hyderabad favorably to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, which face challenges such as pollution and flooding, asserting that Hyderabad stands out as the best city. He credited former Chief Ministers Chandrababu Naidu and Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy for their transformative contributions.

The Chief Minister also discussed plans to relocate polluting industries beyond the Outer Ring Road. He warned that Hyderabad, currently classified as having orange level pollution, is at risk of entering the red zone if left unaddressed.

He criticized opposition parties for obstructing his initiatives aimed at cleaning the Musi River. Reddy recounted how, during the development of the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, 10,000 families were displaced without adequate facilities. He remarked, "While they support developments like the Yamuna Riverfront in Delhi and the Ganga Riverfront in Uttar Pradesh, they oppose the Musi Riverfront development in Hyderabad."

To address construction prohibitions within a 50-meter buffer zone around the lake, the Chief Minister has instructed officials to engage in discussions with residents. "We proposed providing them with 7 acres of land and funding to construct apartments, but the matter has been politicized. Sympathy alone does not resolve the issue, and all constructions in the buffer zone hold no value," he stated, assuring that fair compensation would be offered to those displaced by the Musi project.

Reddy called for collective cooperation to elevate the city and position it as a backbone of the national economy, announcing a presentation on the Musi Riverfront project scheduled for March 13.

He defended the establishment of the Gandhi Knowledge Centre at a cost of Rs 200 crore as part of the Musi Riverfront initiative. He also highlighted the government's ambition to transform Telangana into a 3-trillion-dollar economy by 2047 and attract investment opportunities.

"We have organized a global summit to engage international companies and aim to develop the CURE area, which houses 1.30 crore residents, into a service sector hub," he stated.

In discussing women empowerment initiatives, CM Reddy expressed his concern over the persistent gender discrimination, even in developed nations like America. He emphasized that the formation of Telangana was inspired by Sonia Gandhi and noted that the Congress party has appointed women to key positions, including the Presidency, Prime Ministership, and as party leaders.

The Telangana government prioritizes women's representation in appointing district Collectors, SPs, and other significant posts. For instance, a woman currently serves as the Collector in key districts like Hyderabad, and a female officer in the Special Intelligence Bureau facilitated the surrender of 700 Maoists.