AP to be slum-free by '14

The Andhra Pradesh government has embarked on a comprehensive plan to make the state slum-free in the next five years.

Chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, while reviewing the municipal administration and urban development activities, instructed the officials to undertake infrastructure development for a holistic growth.

According to Reddy, the emphasis would be on implementation of the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP), a centrally-sponsored scheme. Development of slums, providing drinking water and sewerage management, housing, roads and solid waste management would be taken up under this programme.

So far, the Centre has sanctioned 268 projects to the state with an estimate of Rs 12,523.7 crore under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns and Basic Services for Urban Poor schemes, he said.

Greater Hyderabad would be a metropolitan city. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) should ensure planned growth and efficient implementation of civic and infrastructure facilities in the Hyderabad agglomeration area, he said.

A decision would soon be taken on Hyderabad metro rail project. The chief minister asked the officials to complete the Outer Ring Road taken up at a cost of Rs 6,000 crore and the elevated expressway project at Rs 600 crore.

He directed the officials to complete the Rs 310-crore Hussain Sagar Lake and Catchment Area Improvement project for improvement of lake water quality and increasing the eco-tourism potentiality in Hyderabad as per schedule.

The government is also in the process of completing the Krishna drinking water supply scheme Phase II at a cost of Rs 1,082 crore that would add 90 MGD water in the GHMC area.