Latest news with #RamakrishnaRao
Hans India
8 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Think out of box to meet future needs of Hyd'bad denizens: CS to planners
Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao has emphasised the critical need for advanced planning to efficiently meet the future requirements for basic amenities for citizens, given the exponential growth of Hyderabad and its surrounding areas. The Chief Secretary further explained that these reviews of local bodies are being undertaken as per the instructions of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. Accompanied by MAUD (Municipal Administration and Urban Development) officials and the Rangareddy District Collector, the Chief Secretary visited Shamshabad Municipality and conducted a review meeting. During the session, the Chief Secretary ascertained information regarding the Municipal Corporation's jurisdiction and population. Furthermore, he reviewed the services being extended by the Municipal Council to its citizens, including water supply, street lighting, drainage networks, and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). The Chief Secretary stressed the importance of effective property tax collection to finance various activities undertaken by the Urban Local Body (ULB). Following the review meeting, the Chief Secretary visited the Eco Park developed by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) across approximately 85 acres at Kothwalguda, at a cost of Rs 75 crore. He inspected various components of the park, such as boardwalks, the bird aviary, the arrival plaza, and other landscaped facilities. This park is slated to be opened to the public within two months by the Chief Minister, once the finishing works of the arrival plaza are complete. The Chief Secretary also visited the Budvel layout, currently under development by HMDA. The Municipal Commissioner of HMDA explained the salient features of the layout, including multiple use developments and infrastructure in the form of wide roads (45m and 36m), as well as other proposed trunk infrastructure like water supply, drainage, and underground electrification.
United News of India
a day ago
- Business
- United News of India
Plan ahead for growing Hyderabad: Emphasises Telangana CS Ramakrishna Rao
Hyderabad, June 20 (UNI) Telangana Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao on Friday emphasised the need for proactive planning to meet the growing demands of Hyderabad and its surrounding areas. Addressing officials during a review meeting at Shamshabad Municipality, the Chief Secretary highlighted the importance of efficient civic services like water supply, drainage, street lighting, and property tax collection. He stated that Hyderabad's rapid urban expansion requires local bodies to plan ahead for infrastructure and basic amenities. The review, conducted as per the directive of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, focused on improving grassroots governance and service delivery. Following the meeting, the Chief Secretary visited key HMDA projects, including the 85-acre Eco Park at Kothwalguda, Budvel multi-use layout with direct ORR access, and the newly constructed Neopolis trumpet interchange built to AASHTO standards. These infrastructure projects, aimed at improving connectivity and livability, are set to be inaugurated soon by the Chief Minister. UNI VV GNK
Hans India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Performance of Secretaries in key depts under scrutiny
Hyderabad: After a virtual collapse in the administration in a few important wings in recent times, the performance of Secretaries of all the departments in the Telangana government is under scrutiny now. Newly-appointed Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao has tightened the noose and set targets for all Secretaries asking them to come up with innovative approaches to implement schemes and mobilize financial resources to overcome the fund crunch in the state. The Chief Secretary will also seek a status report on revenue generation and challenges facing in achieving the targets from the Secretaries of all revenue generating wings such as Commercial Taxes, Transport, Stamps & Registrations, Excise and Mining departments. Soon after the Cabinet Sub-Committee on mobilization of revenue resources conducted a meeting and chalked out a plan to improve the efficiency of all revenue-generating wings on Monday, the Chief Secretary summoned the officials concerned and analysed the performance of the respective departments and the challenges encountered in achieving revenue targets, officials said. Ramakrishna Rao, who headed the Finance wing for over 10 years and has expertise in generating revenues, is keen on enhancing the efficiency of every wing, particularly tax and non-tax revenue generating departments. 'The new Chief Secretary is leaving no stone unturned in achieving revenue targets by creating new avenues in every department. Though it is a Herculean task, the CS is preparing monthly wise targets and has asked the authorities to achieve them,' officials said, adding that the performance of the top officials in the key departments would be analyzed from time to time and the Chief Secretary would take a call on continuing the officials to head the same wing for a long time. In a similar vein, the officials of all Welfare departments and those from Education, Health, Panchayat Raj, Municipal Administration, Agriculture, Housing, Civil Supplies, Tourism and Youth Advancement Departments have been asked to update the progress in the implementation of every scheme and development programme. Welfare schemes like 'Rajiv Yuva Vikasam', fine rice distribution, Indiramma housing, new ration cards and others will be reviewed regularly and the officials concerned will have to submit a report on the status of the implementation of each scheme. The Chief Secretary will issue requisite instructions if there are any challenges in implementing the schemes.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Govt. focussing on infrastructure development as priority area, says Chief Secretary
The Telangana government is focussing on development of infrastructure as its priority area as it will lead to further growth and ensure more revenues to the State. 'We have initiated efforts to mobilise resources and incur capital expenditure on infrastructure development as it will have a cascading effect on other sectors,' said Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao. He underlined the need for targeted spending on the upcoming Future City, roads, drinking water and other infrastructure, asserting that everything comes to a standstill in the absence of required infrastructure. 'This is our basic overall scheme for the coming days,' he told The Hindu. The government is exploring multiple options like setting targets to revenue-earning departments, aggressive steps to prevent leakages and contemplation of initiatives like one-time settlement schemes for realising long-pending dues to raise the required resources. Tracking taxpayers to ensure compliance and leasing/monetising properties are among the areas that are being looked into. He added that they were also looking at externally aided projects to finance the development. Plugging loopholes The Chief Secretary, who recently assumed charge, said the performance of the revenue-earning departments will depend partly on effectively plugging loopholes and partly on the economic scenario. 'There are some departments, like vehicle sales, which register impressive growth when there is a boom. There are others like liquor where we cannot go beyond a certain limit,' he said, explaining that the focus on checking fake input tax credit ensured recovery of ₹100 crore in the past couple of months. When asked about the steps taken to forge effective interdepartmental coordination, Mr. Ramakrishna Rao said he will endeavour to ensure that things do not get stuck between departments. In addition to focussing on meeting the senior officials involved, he added that steps have been initiated to leverage technology to ensure virtual meetings with different departments and teleconferences on regular basis to assess the progress achieved in different parameters. 'I don't want to conduct meetings more than necessary. Meetings will be short but with a very clear agenda on targets set and achievements made,' he said, adding that the officials concerned will go back with specific action plans at the end of the meetings. Mr. Ramakrishna Rao said he gave equal importance to meeting junior-level officers to know their interests, know about the good initiatives they propose and overall 'to know them as persons and officers'. Mentoring the officers is important as addressing their issues will ensure that they are inspired to perform well.
Hans India
28-04-2025
- Business
- Hans India
K Ramakrishna Rao appointed new CS
Hyderabad: Putting an end to the speculation, the state government on Sunday appointed Special Chief Secretary to Finance Department K Ramakrishna Rao as the new Chief Secretary. The new head of the state administration will take charge on April 30 soon after the incumbent Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari retires from the services. Ramakrishna Rao, an IAS officer of 1991 batch, has been heading the Finance Department for the last 10 years and playing a key role in the management of finances during the crisis time, mainly when the Covid pandemic crippled the Telangana economy in 2021 and 2022 in the last BRS government. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's government also relied on Ramakrishna Rao and utilised the designated new Chief Secretary's expertise in the financial management since December 2023 after the Congress assumed power in the state. He has the credit of introducing a slew of financial systems to enhance financial control and transparency in the allocation of funds. Official sources said Ramakrishna will hold a full additional charge (FAC) of the Finance Department until the government appoints a new secretary to the key wing. The senior IAS official also held the charge of the State Reorganization Department dealing with all matters related to the formation of the new state of Telangana and the bifurcation of assets issue between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states. Ramakrishna Rao had also worked as Director General of Centre for Good Governance (CGG) and brought many reforms by leveraging Information technology in the administration. Graduated from IIT Kanpur and also Master's degree in Business Management, the IAS officer started his career as Collector of Adilabad district. Meanwhile, it is said that current Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari has been offered Government Advisor and Chief Information Commission posts after demitting the office on her superannuation. However, she is yet to make a decision on the offer.
