Drones to patrol Vizag beach to cut down on mishaps

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VIJAYAWADA: In a bid to bring down accidents at beaches across the state, the State government has decided to use drones for patrolling. IT minister Nara Lokesh said drone patrolling, for which Singapore will provide technical assistance, would be taken up on a pilot basis in Visakhapatnam beach.

Speaking after a meeting with Desmond Lee, Minister of Social and Family Development (Singapore), on Wednesday, Lokesh said, “We will experiment with drone patrolling in Visakhapatnam to monitor beach accidents and have requested the Singapore minister to lend technical support.” He further explained how the State government was using technology in rural development initiatives.

Later, Lokesh, who also holds the Panchayat Raj and Rural  Development portfolio, participated in a review meeting with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. “In the last four years, we have launched works worth Rs 20,000 crore for asset creation in rural areas and completed 80 per cent of it. Perhaps, AP is the only state to have achieved the feat. The CM has directed us to complete the remaining works at the earliest,” he said. 

He further said that the department would test water from hand-pumps in the rural areas for fluoride. The target is to provide 70 litres per capita per day potable water to every household in two years,” he explained. Elaborating on the installation of LED street lights project, Lokesh said the State would be completely lit by them by January 2019. 

‘Ready’ for polls
IT Minister Nara Lokesh, in a press meet on Wednesday, said the TDP was ready to go for elections whenever announced. “We are ready. Telugu Desam is the only party which can be seen at booth level. No other parties are even visible,” he said.