AP CS holds Video-Conference with Collectors

Hyderabad, April 21 (INN): Severe action will be taken up by the Government on the Officers if the Night Shelters are found with less maintenance and facilities, Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao said.

At a meeting with all the District Collectors through Video Conference on Tuesday, the Chief Secretary has reviewed on the progress on the implementation Government schemes viz., Neeru-Chettu, Drinking Water, land acquisition to Railways and National High ways, stray dog menace, night shelters etc.,. He informed the officials on the specific guidelines provided by the Supreme Court on the Night Shelters for the homeless people. He also advised the officers that the Night Shelters should be maintained neat and clean, proper cots, hygienic food with all other required facilities should be provided in the Night Shelters and also opined that a Visiting Officer may be appointed by the concerned Department to visit regularly and to monitor the facilities in the Night Shelters.

The Chief Secretary has reviewed on the Stray Dog menace in the State. The State Government is taking the issue very seriously on the unacceptable incident occurred on the instant death of a girl due to stray dogs attack in the Guntur District and other stray dog menace occurred. He has issued instructions to the Panchayat Raj, Animal Husbandry and Municipal Department authorities to take immediate action by removing the dogs immediately with the help of dog squad. Wherever ferocious stray dogs are noticed, they should be immediately transported to any animal welfare shelter for being looked after by them.

People should also co-operate with the civic body by not throwing food leftover in open places as doing so would also invite trouble. The unlicensed meat shops should be removed immediately. Population of the dogs should be comedown immediately and Animal Husbandry Department may take the measures for birth control of the dogs.

While reviewing on Neeru ' Chettu Chief Secretary briefed about the programme the purpose of the Neeru-Chettu is for water conservation, improving ground water table to make the State drought-proof. The Government of Andhra Pradesh is intending to transform the flagship programme into a people's movement. All the District Officials are requested to involve the people of all sections for implementation of Neeru-Chettu programme very effectively in the State.

The Chief Secretary suggested that the works for Neeru-Chettu may be taken up involving Janmabhoomi Committees from village to district level with the partnership of water users associations. To make the State drought-proof, take up repairs and maintenance of canals, reservoirs, lift irrigation schemes, check dams and de-silting of tanks in a campaign mode across the State to increase the capacity to store rain and surface water, Rural Development, Forest Development, Irrigation and Ground Water Departments have to play major roles in implementing of this programme. District Officers informed that as a part of Neeru-Chettu works taken up de-silting of water tanks are under progress and repairing and maintaining of reservoirs are also taken by the Departments. Chief Secretary assured that the programme will be reviewed in weekly basis to solve the budget related issues.

Besides Non-Resident Indians and Non-Resident Villagers, bureaucrats, industrialists, celebrities, people's representatives would be involved as lead partners in the programme of Smart Village and Smart ward. To collect the data on the programme Chief Secretary opined that an Officer may be appointed to monitor across the State. The Government have already launched a Portal which will contains all the details, including demographic particulars of the villages in the State for the public those who interested to become partners to register on the website, Chief Secretary informed.

The Chief Secretary has reviewed on the Drinking Water problem in the season. In urban cities and towns, the common problem is decline of water levels in reservoirs, lakes and high capacity bore wells. The authorities find it difficult to maintain the supply of water during summer season in required quantity as used to be supplied during other seasons. Similarly, the domestic bore wells also fail to discharge water sufficiently during summer season due to steep decline of water levels in these urban areas. In rural areas, hundreds of hand pumps operating on bore wells are either under repair or the bore wells go dry. Concerned Departments may take appropriate measures by maintaining the water levels in reservoirs and lakes in a good manner and necessary action may be initiated to enhance the storage capacity of water resources for tackling water problem.

Land acquisition for irrigation projects, Railways and National Highways, acquiring of Land for Forests in Municipal Areas, E-pass system are discussed in the meeting.

Senior Officers from all the Departments have participated in the meeting and interacted with the District Collectors through video conference.