BJP members in the Telangana Assembly alleged that the State Government was not doing enough to promote Prime Minister’s Fasal Bima Yojana in the State to extend crop insurance to farmers. Raising the issue during the Question Hour in the Assembly here on Saturday, G.Kishan Reddy said the scheme with nominal premium was introduced in Kharif 2016. But majority of farmers could not avail it as the Government did not waive loans as promised and they could not avail fresh bank loans. The insurance scheme would be extended automatically along with new crop loans but with slow pace of loan waiver, farmers could not avail insurance scheme. Those farmers who had taken private loans were not getting covered under the insurance scheme and government should look into this, he said. Mr. Laxman said while the scheme was a boon to farmers, only 6.5 lakh farmers, not even 10 per cent of farmers, paid insurance premium in the State due to lack of awareness. In the BJP ruled states about 38 to 50 lakh farmers availed the scheme. Farmers should be encouraged to avail the scheme before the last date. Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy said so far 29.49 lakh farmers were given crop loans in Kharif and Rabi and 6.5 lakh farmers availed insurance. Many could not avail as the cut off dates were advanced from September 30 and with good rains in June and July, farmers did not feel the need for insurance, he explained. New urban development authorities Municipal Administration Minister K.T.Rama Rao has said new urban development authorities would be created soon to cover new districts for a structured and planned development in addition to four UDAs covering Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medchal, Warangal (Urban) Warangal (Rural), Sangareddy and Yadadri districts. A meeting would be organised with respective MLAs, he said in reply to TRS member M. Janardhan Reddy. Driving schools Transport Minister M.Mahender Reddy has said that in view of growing road accidents due to negligence of drivers, State Government proposed to set up driving schools in every district headquarters. The Rs.15 crore training centre set up by the Centre at Siricilla would start soon and train 30,000 drivers a year, he added. The Telangana and AP Transport ministers would meet next week to allow single permit system for lorries in both the States, he told the House. Source - http://www.thehindu.com