Andhra Draws Up Rs 458cr Plan For Rural Uplift
Rural development work in the state, estimated to cost Rs 458.19 crore, has been identified during the week-long `janmabhoomi programme that concluded on Wednesday, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said here yesterday. The work would be taken up through shramdan.
Naidu said the programme attracted people in large numbers, including the well-off and non-resident Indians (NRIs) who contributed over Rs 10 crore towards work specific to their village.
A feature of the second round of `janmabhoomi this time was that work, especially in the irrigation sector, pending for the last 20 to 30 years, could be taken up through shramdan.
Naidu gave the instance of certain sections of the Rajolibanda diversion scheme in Mahbubnagar district where a section of the distributary, if taken up with a small investment, could assure water supply to an additional 80,000 acres of land.
The work has been sanctioned on shramdan basis with government contributing Rs 1.3 crore towards the material, the Chief Minister said.
In Nellore district, construction of 900 school buildings is being undertaken at a cost of Rs 9 crore, he said.
Naidu explained that in the ordinary course, the state administration would complete only 30 to 40 school buildings in a year. But the `janmabhoomi programme has motivated villagers to take up construction of 900 buildings in three months.
Naidu said the construction of approach roads in several villages which couldt be taken so far because of litigation over land partition, is finally underway with the villagers cooperation.
The Chief Minister said that involving the local population in the selection and execution of community work was better than drawing up plans from the district headquarters as it gave the villagers a say in setting priority for work.
Naidu, who will be leading a 14-member delegation to Malaysia and Singapore next week, said one of the purpose of the visit is to study how the government involves the local population in execution of public works.
He regretted the decision of the main opposition parties Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxists) not to participate in the delegation.