CHITTOOR: The state government has decided to launch a milk mission with an outlay of Rs 6,000 crore to boost milk production.
Speaking at a Grama Sabha held at Gangavaram village on Tuesday as part of the second phase of Rachchabanda programme, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said financial aid would be provided to small farmers to purchase milch cattle under the milk mission. Under Kamadhenu scheme, more Bulk Milk Chilling Centres will be set up to increase the procurement of milk from farmers.
He reminded that the first bulk milk chilling centre was set up in Gangavaram in 2004 with a daily milk procurement of just 250 litres. The milk procurement of the chilling centres have increased to 2.5 lakh litres a day in the district now.
Chittoor, a droughtprone district, has become a model one for other districts in the state in procurement of milk, he said.
Admitting that several villages and towns in the district were facing drinking water problem, he said a scheme with an outlay of Rs 4,500 crore was evolved to quench their thirst. Under the scheme, six tmc of water will be drawn from Kandaleru reservoir to solve the drinking problem in villages and towns on a permanent basis.
Giving a resume of steps taken for the welfare of ryots, he said interest free loans (up to `1 lakh) would be provided to farmers from the rabi season benefiting 95 lakh ryots in the state.
Under the second phase of Rachchabanda, 54,000 ration cards and 22,000 pensions would be issued in Chittoor district, he said.
Kiran Kumar launched several works worth `143 crore in Palmaner constituency and other other places in the district on the first day of his visit.
The Rural Water Supply Department took up a scheme with an outlay of `110 lakh to supply drinking water to 306 schools.
Toilets would be constructed in 1,721 schools in the district under Rajiv Vidya Mission. Responding to an appeal by local TDP MLA N Amarnatha Reddy, who presided over the Grama Sabha, he promised to improve medical facilities in Palmaner hospital. He sanctioned a junior college for girls and an ITI for Palmaner.