GUNTUR: Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), which extended financial support of `9 crore for development of backward Dharmavaram village in Durgi mandal under Narasaraopet Parliamentary constituency, handed over a cheque of Rs. 2 crore to District Collector Kantilal Dande, as part of the first phase, for taking up development works, including roads, drains and drinking water.
Dharmavaram is the village, adopted by Narasaraopet MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao under Prime Minister Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. After adopting the village, the MP took an initiative in making GAIL a partner for the all-round development of the village and succeeded in getting an assurance to get funds to a tune of Rs. 9 crore in a phased manner from GAIL management.
Out of the Rs. 2 crore funds released by GAIL, Rs. 93 lakh would be spent on drinking water works like laying pipelines, construction of overhead tank and facilitating tap connections to all households in the village. These works will be taken up by the Rural Water Supply (RWS) department.
While, Rs. 77 lakh would be spent for construction of internal CC roads and drainage system through Panchayat Raj (PR) department, the remaining Rs. 30 lakh would be utilised for taking desilting works in the village tank spread over 120 acres by the minor irrigation department. The collector also announced Rs. 77 lakh matching grant under MNREGS for the road works.
Representatives of GAIL made an agreement with the three government departments to take up the works and handed over the respective documents to the District Collector, here on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, Rayapati said that he would strive for the integrated development of the backward Narasaraopet Parliamentary constituency.
Thanking the management of GAIL for coming forward to develop Dharmavaram village, he announced to adopt and develop four villages each from every Assembly constituency under Narasaraopet Parliamentary constituency.
Admitting that Macheral, Gurazala and Piduguralla constituencies are facing severe drinking water problem, he urged for taking necessary measures for avoiding the same and said that negotiations are on with the Centre for getting required funds for the proposed Rs. 1,120 crore integrated water grid project.
GAIL representative V Krishna Mohan said that the organization would extend support in construction of community toilets in municipalities and also in providing infrastructure to schools in the near future. Congratulating GAIL over coming forward for the development of Dharmavaram village, the District Collector Dande said that the district administration, too, would strive for developing Dharmavaram as a model village.
Former MLC Rayapati Srinivas, GAIL representatives Sriram Swaroop Chinni, G Sitharam and others were also present.