AP releases Rs 800 crore for Gram Panchayats Hyderabad, Oct 29 (INN): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has ordered for immediate release of Rs800 crore for Gram Panchayats.
In a review held on financial resources utilization in 26 departments, the Chief Minister directed officials to utilize the released funds in every Gram Panchayat for laying proper roads, drainage system, installing street lights and ensuring health and sanitation.
For roads in urban areas, the Chief Minister said Rs.107 crore could be utilized. Focusing on waste management and disposal, he asked officials to scout for sites for dumping yards in all the gram panchayats in the state. He asked officials of Panchayat Raj, NREGA, RWS departments to work to get funds worth Rs1,300 crore from Centre and utilize them properly for respective works/schemes.
In agency areas, the Chief Minister suggested that a Special Area Grant Fund be utilized for its development. He has also asked social welfare and tribal welfare department to utilize funds properly.
He has asked the forest department to utilize Rs.150 crore to carry out water conservation works on war-footing basis. He added that NREGA funds could be utilized to carry out Contour Trenching in an area of 5,000 kms near check dams. He has asked them to prepare an action plan in this regard.
Contour trenching is an agricultural practice to allow for water, and soil conservation, and to increase agricultural production. Trenches do not allow water to run off immediately and enhance the ground water table.
Further, he said, Rs.50 crore will be released for planting saplings. The Forest department will work with private nurseries in this direction. In forest areas, the Chief Minister suggested that check dams and other water streams could be tagged on Google maps.
The Pollution Control Board officials have been directed to utilize funds worth Rs 8 crore.
Interacting with tourism department officials, the Chief Minister said the department could use Rs.13 crore (from the under-utilized funds) for 13 districts (each district ' Rs 1 crore) to hold district festivals.
He was informed that there are only 5 Shilparamams in total of 13 corporations. He added that they could be established in the remaining 9 corporations too. On land procurement for Shilparamams, the chief minister said he would discuss it with district collectors.
News Posted: 29 October, 2014
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