Important News - 2025-08-19
19 August 2025
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Schemes (3)
Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy Directs Flood Management and Irrigation Water Supply for Vanakalam Season
On Tuesday, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Telangana's Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies, directed irrigation officials to rigorously monitor rising water levels in reservoirs and implement flood prevention measures. During a virtual meeting with senior engineers, he emphasized the government's priority to balance flood management with irrigation needs. Reddy highlighted substantial inflows in the Krishna and Godavari basins, noting that 12,023 of Telangana's 34,740 minor irrigation (MI) tanks were already surplus, with over 9,100 tanks filled beyond 75% capacity. He instructed immediate repair of 177 flood-damaged MI structures (canals, tanks, lift schemes) across Adilabad, Mulugu, Mahabubnagar, and Suryapet districts, estimating restoration costs at ₹335 crore. For the ongoing Vanakalam (Kharif) season, he mandated coordination through the State-level committee for Integrated Water Planning and Management (SCIWAM) to ensure 388 tmc ft of water reaches all ayacut areas, particularly those reliant on minor irrigation. Officials were also told to optimize water use in Kaddam, Yellampally, and SRSP projects and fill MI tanks for year-round water security. Principal Secretary Rahul Bojja and Engineer-in-Chief Amjad Hussain attended the meeting.
Kerala's Updated Orange Book 2025 Implements GSI Landslide Map, Restricts Construction in Hazard Zones
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has released the updated Orange Book 2025, outlining monsoon preparedness and disaster-response protocols after a two-month delay. This revision notably replaces the outdated 2010 landslide-susceptibility map from the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) with a new landslide-hazard susceptibility map developed by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the national nodal agency. The GSI map classifies landslide-prone areas in Kerala into three hazard categories: high, moderate, and low. District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) are empowered to prohibit construction activities and evacuate existing buildings in these zones during red or orange weather alerts, or up to two days before or after extreme weather events. Crucially, new construction permits will be denied in landslide-susceptible zones if the area experienced landslips during the devastating 2018 floods. The guidelines mandate the evacuation of residents from vulnerable buildings each monsoon and encourage permanent relocation to safer areas. The updated Orange Book, which now includes departments like Scheduled Tribes Development, provides standard operating procedures and emergency plans for State, Central agencies, and DDMAs. It is revised annually based on departmental inputs and is typically issued before the southwest monsoon season for strict compliance.
Flawed SNDP Drain Project Floods Sainikpuri Colonies, Pollutes Kapra Lake
For the past two years, faulty execution of the storm water drain project under the Strategic Nala Development Programme (SNDP) in Medchal Malkajgiri district, Telangana, has caused severe flooding in residential colonies of Sainikpuri and pollution in Kapra Lake. During rainfall, areas like SS Enclave are inundated with a mix of storm water and sewage due to the drain being constructed at a lower elevation than the intake well, leading to water backup. Residents, including Priya Iyengar who documented the issue on social media platform X, have reported unresponsiveness from local officials such as the zonal commissioner and Divisional Engineer of Malkajgiri. Temporary solutions like digging trenches to divert floodwater into Kapra Lake have worsened water quality, as highlighted by the Kapra Lake Revival Group. R. Laxman, Executive Engineer of Malkajgiri Circle at the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), acknowledged delays in remedial measures and stated that sewage diversion is unfeasible during heavy rains, recommending the construction of a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) as a long-term fix. The project, costing over ₹31 crore, underscores infrastructural challenges in urban development schemes.
Awards (1)
Kerala CM Honors Late Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardee Dr. M. Anirudhan at Remembrance Meet
A remembrance meeting for Dr. M. Anirudhan, an industrialist and director of NoRKA Roots who recently passed away, was held with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan delivering the keynote address. Chief Minister Vijayan paid tribute to Dr. Anirudhan, recalling his close association as the founding president of FOKANA (Federation of Kerala Associations in North America), a prominent organization for the Malayali diaspora in the US. Dr. Anirudhan, a native of Oachira in Kollam district, Kerala, frequently accompanied the Chief Minister on visits to the United States; during the CM's last trip, he visited Dr. Anirudhan in Chicago due to his declining health. As a member of the Loka Kerala Sabha from its inception, Dr. Anirudhan played a crucial role in mobilizing support for Kerala during the COVID-19 pandemic and flood disasters. He was also a recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, an award conferred by the Government of India on overseas Indians for outstanding achievements.
Politics (3)
AIADMK's Palaniswami Defends BJP Alliance, Criticizes CPI Remarks and DMK's Handling of Inflation and Amma Clinics
AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami strongly rebuked Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary R. Mutharasan for criticizing the AIADMK's alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Palaniswami asserted that Mutharasan had no authority to comment, pointing out that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had previously formed alliances with the BJP during the 1999 Lok Sabha elections and the 2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections. This statement was in response to Mutharasan's claim that Palaniswami aligned with the BJP without consulting AIADMK members, which allegedly led to defections such as former leaders A. Anwhar Raajhaa and V. Maitreyan joining the DMK. Palaniswami emphasized the AIADMK's principle-based decisions, highlighting their performance in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, where they won 10 out of 11 seats in the Salem region. He also criticized DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for failing to control inflation and for dismantling the 'Amma clinics' initiative—a healthcare scheme launched by the previous AIADMK government that provided affordable medical services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the AIADMK regime managed prices through a Price Stabilisation Fund by sourcing essentials from other states. Palaniswami vowed to reopen 4,000 Amma clinics if the AIADMK regains power in the 2026 state elections.
BJP Vows to Rename Vikarabad to Anantagiri Post-Election, Criticizes Telangana Government Schemes
On Tuesday, N. Ramchander Rao, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Telangana president and former Member of Legislative Council (MLC), announced that the party intends to rename Vikarabad district to Anantagiri if it wins the upcoming Assembly elections. Rao expressed confidence in securing at least three Assembly seats in the district and winning the Vikarabad municipality elections in the forthcoming local body polls. He urged party workers to campaign vigorously by highlighting the central government's financial support to Telangana under various schemes and advocating for a 'double engine' government for improved governance. Criticizing the Congress-led state government, Rao alleged that it failed to implement its promised guarantees over the past 20 months, resembling the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime. He specifically cited poor execution of schemes like the loan waiver for farmers, Rythu Bharosa financial aid, and fertilizer distribution. The Indiramma housing scheme was labeled a 'big flop' with only 73 beneficiaries approved out of 14,000 applications, which he attributed to political bias, demanding fair inclusion for all eligible poor. On reservations, Rao reiterated BJP's opposition to including Muslims under political reservations for Backward Classes (BCs), stating they benefit from categories like BC-B, BC-E, and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and that religion-based political reservations are inappropriate. Separately, BJP leaders led by former MLA N.V.S.S. Prabhakar enforced a bandh in Ramanthapur, demanding ₹50 lakh ex gratia and a government job in the power sector for families of victims who died in an electrocution incident during a Janmashtami procession on Sunday. Additionally, BJP spokesperson N.V. Subash criticized Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for hypocrisy on BC reservations after welcoming Justice Sudarshan Reddy (INDIA bloc's Vice-Presidential nominee) over the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) OBC candidate Radhakrishna, calling the move misleading.
Sridhar Babu Accuses KTR of Misleading Public on Kaynes Project Shift to Gujarat Due to Central Subsidies
Telangana's Industries and IT Minister, D. Sridhar Babu, countered BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) for accusing the state government of causing the Kaynes Semiconductor project to shift from Hyderabad to Gujarat. Minister Babu asserted that KTR's claims were baseless and misleading, emphasizing that the real reason was the substantial financial incentives provided by the BJP-led central government and Gujarat state administration. He detailed that the project, involving an investment of ₹3,307 crore, received a 50% subsidy (₹1,654.5 crore) under the central India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and an additional 40% (₹661 crore) from the Gujarat government, totaling approximately ₹2,314.9 crore in subsidies, covering nearly 70% of the project cost. Babu criticized this as preferential treatment favoring Gujarat over other states and demanded accountability from the BJP.
Ranks & Reports (1)
Kerala Pollution Board Report Highlights 79.16 MLD Sewage Treatment Deficit in Urban Areas
In a report submitted to the Ministry of Jal Shakti on August 8, 2025, the Kerala State Pollution Control Board identified a significant shortfall in sewage treatment infrastructure across urban areas of Kerala. As of June 2025, the state generates 305.4 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage but treats only 225.9 MLD, resulting in a gap of 79.16 MLD. This includes 129.6 MLD treated by common sewage treatment plants (STPs) and 96.3 MLD by individual STPs. With only 14 operational common STPs compared to over 2,000 individual units, challenges arise from Kerala's rural-urban settlement pattern, where 70% of domestic wastewater is sullage (less contaminated) managed via soak pits, and 30% is sewage handled through septic tanks or STPs. The Board issued over 1,100 notices under the Water Act to apartments, hotels, and industries for non-compliance, such as lacking valid consent or adequate liquid waste management facilities.
Defence (1)
Record 22.56% Private Sector Share in India's Defence Production for FY 2024-25 as Exports Surge 34-Fold
India's private sector has achieved a record 22.56% share in the country's total defence production for the financial year 2024-25, marking the third consecutive year of growth, as per data from the Department of Defence Production. Private manufacturers contributed ₹33,979 crore out of the overall production of ₹1,50,590 crore, the highest since the sector opened to private players in 2016-17. In comparison, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) accounted for 57.50%, Indian Ordnance Factories for 14.49%, and non-defence Public Sector Units for 5.4% during the same period. Defence production has surged significantly, with FY 2024-25 output at ₹1.50 lakh crore, over three times higher than the ₹46,429 crore recorded in 2014-15, while the defence budget rose from ₹2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14 to ₹6.81 lakh crore in 2025-26. Defence exports grew 34-fold, from ₹686 crore in 2013-14 to ₹23,622 crore in 2024-25, with equipment now exported to over 100 countries, including top destinations like the United States, France, and Armenia in 2023-24. Government schemes such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS), Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) Scheme, and Technology Development Fund (TDF), along with initiatives like Make in India and Positive Indigenisation Lists, have driven this growth by promoting private participation, innovation, and self-reliance.
Books (1)
Seven-Year-Old Musfira Shaikh Publishes '7 Paw-sitive Tales' Book
Musfira Shaikh, a seven-year-old third-grade student at Markaz Public School in Kaithappoyil, has published her book titled '7 Paw-sitive Tales', which is now available on major online reading platforms. Despite experiencing speech difficulties that made her hesitant to communicate verbally, particularly in school, Musfira used writing as a tool for self-expression from an early age, significantly helping her overcome these challenges. Her mother, Mubashira Khot, a columnist for an Urdu daily and a parenting coach, discovered Musfira's talent when she found her writing thoughts in notebooks and subsequently nurtured this ability. The family, originally from Pune, Maharashtra, has lived in Kaithappoyil for about five years. Musfira's father, Dr. Mohammed Ishaque Shaikh, is a medical practitioner who has authored two books in his field. With structured guidance from an online learning platform and her instructor Harshana P.M., who focused on enhancing both communication and writing skills, Musfira developed confidence. Her book, '7 Paw-sitive Tales', features seven bedtime stories with moral lessons, inspired by her personal life and centered around animal characters; her favorite story, 'Three Little Kittens', draws from experiences with her siblings. This achievement follows her first published story in the children's publication 'Kid’s Age' in 2024.
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