VIJAYAWADA: Asserting that his government is committed to strengthening the Panchayat Raj system in the State, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said it is releasing Rs 500 crore towards its share for the Jal Jeevan Mission, besides Rs 990 crore of the 15th Finance Commission funds to panchayats. A target has been set to build 17,500 km cement roads and 10,000 km CC roads and drains in the panchayats in the coming five years.
He said the Janmabhoomi 2.0 programme will launched in January 2025 and development works will be taken up in villages along with those coming forward to associate themselves with infrastructure growth.
Recalling that the look of villages was changed by taking up several programmes during 2014-19, Naidu blamed the previous YSRC regime for destroying the institutions. “Once again, we will strive to restore the glory of villages by extending all support to the panchayats in development of basic infrastructure,” Naidu said, while reviewing the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department, along with Deputy Chief Minister (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development) K Pawan Kalyan at the State Secretariat on Tuesday.
The requirements needed for every house, every village and every area will be identified and provided electricity, gas, toilet, drinking water and other facilities. The Panchayat Raj Department should come up with a comprehensive plan for the development of basic infrastructure in villages, he said.
Informing that Gram Sabhas will be organised in the State on August 23 to discuss the works to be taken up under NREGS, the officials said the waste to wealth centres will be reopened from October 2.
A target has been set to complete 10,000 km drains and 2,500 km BT roads in the coming days, and 5 lakh farm ponds will be set up, they said.
Underscoring the need to increase the forest cover in the State, Naidu directed the officials to achieve 50% green cover along with horticulture crops.
Observing that opportunities are abundant for eco-tourism projects in the State, Naidu suggested the officials to take up tourism development activities in forests in association with private agencies. The officials should take steps to auction the red sanders stocks once in six months, he said.
