The Telangana Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, on Thursday decided to withhold 50 per cent of salaries of ministers and certain public representatives as part of a broader effort to mobilise resources and clear long-pending dues of retired employees.
Officials said the Cabinet has resolved to clear arrears amounting to Rs 6,200 crore within the next 100 days, addressing financial liabilities accumulated over the past decade. The withheld salaries, along with other mobilised funds, will be utilised for this purpose.
The decisions were announced by Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, alongside ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Vakiti Srihari, following a detailed Cabinet meeting at the State Secretariat.
To address the financial constraints, the Cabinet also approved the immediate formation of a ‘Revenue Resources Mobilisation Committee’. The panel, comprising Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and several senior ministers, will explore avenues to raise funds and engage with employee unions, teachers’ bodies, and retired employees’ associations to expedite resolution of the issue.
Highlighting the hardships faced by pensioners, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said delays in disbursing post-retirement benefits have caused significant distress. He alleged that large-scale dues had accumulated over the years, adding that the current government is committed to clearing them in a time-bound manner. The Cabinet also resolved to simplify the process so that retirees are not required to visit multiple offices to secure their benefits.
The government acknowledged that making lump-sum payments could be challenging due to fiscal pressures and said alternative mechanisms for phased disbursement and resource mobilisation would be explored. The Cabinet is scheduled to meet again on May 4 to finalise modalities and timelines for payments to both serving and retired employees.
Apart from financial decisions, the Cabinet took several administrative and developmental measures. It approved the nomination-based appointment of governing bodies for Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) whose terms have expired.
In a push for sports infrastructure, the Cabinet cleared a proposal to develop the Gachibowli Stadium under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Plans include expanding swimming facilities, establishing a Sports University, and creating accommodation and training infrastructure for athletes. Additionally, 12 acres of land will be leased through an open tender process for commercial activities, with the generated revenue earmarked for maintaining the sports ecosystem.
The Cabinet also approved the establishment of an ‘Integrated Aqua Park’ near the Sripada Yellampalli Project in Mancherial district, allocating 85.10 acres of Irrigation Department land to the Fisheries Department for the project.
On the employment front, approvals were granted for 94 posts at the Government Polytechnic Residential College in Kesamudram Mandal, Mahabubabad district, including 63 regular and 31 outsourced positions. Further, 190 posts for Executive Officers in the Endowments Department and additional posts in the Commercial Taxes Department were sanctioned.
The ministers also appealed to RTC workers to call off their strike, assuring that the government remains open to dialogue. A separate committee has been formed to address their concerns.
The Cabinet’s decisions signal a combined focus on addressing employee welfare, fiscal management, and infrastructure development, with an emphasis on clearing legacy dues while maintaining administrative momentum.
Also read: Kavitha trains her guns on father KCR for going soft on BJP
Follow us
