HYDERABAD: The state government will construct as many as 1,000 new Gram Panchayat buildings across the state in the first phase at a cost of Rs 130 crore, Panchayat Raj minister K T Rama Rao told Assembly Sunday.
The new buildings will replace the dilapidated ones. The government has sanctioned Rs 13 lakh for each building.
Replying to a question raised by Bajireddy Goverdhan and others during the Question Hour, Rama Rao said the state government has conducted a detail survey and identified about 1,560 structures as dilapidated buildings. There is a need to construct new buildings to ensure smooth functioning of the offices.
The government has sanctioned Rs 130 crore for construction of 1,000 grama panchayat buildings in the first phase. The buildings will have facilities like meeting hall and offices of the sarpanch and secretary among others.
Goverdhan pointed out that Rs 13 lakh was insufficient to complete the buildings and demanded to increase the amount to Rs 20 lakh. Another member Shoba pointed out that gram panchayat meetings are being held in tents and under the shade of trees causing inconvenience to the people.
MMTS Services to be Extended to Yadadri
The government has proposed to extend the Phase II of Multi Modal Transit System (MMTS) train services to Yadadri for the convenience of devotees, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) minister K T Rama Rao informed the State Assembly Sunday.
Answering to a question raised by Vemula Veeresham and others, Rama Rao said the Union Ministry of Railways has sanctioned Ghatkeshar-Raigir (Yadadri) extension of MMTS Phase 11 (32 km) at an estimated cost of Rs 330 crore. Of the sanctioned amount, the Centre will provide Rs 110 crore (one third of the total cost) and the remaining Rs 220 crore will be borne by the state government.
Projects to Generate 14,540 MW Power in 3 years
Energy minister G Jagadish Reddy said as part of the decision to make the State power surplus, the government has taken up capacity addition projects and TSGENCO will generate 5,880 MW thermal power and 360 MW Hydel power in the next three years. Apart from this 2,500 MW power will be generated through solar projects in the private sector and 1,800 MW by Singareni Collieries Company Limited. National Thermal Power Corporation will take up projects to generate 4,000 MW power to meet the future power requirements.
Replying to a question from V Prashanth Reddy and others, Jagadish Reddy said the 1,080 MW Bhadradri Thermal Power project with an estimated cost of Rs 7,290.60 crore is a new power project taken up after formation of Telangana State. It is likely to start generation in 2016-17. About 800 MW will be generated by Kothagudem Thermal Power Station. The cost of the project is Rs 5,548.44 crore and it is likely to start generation in 2017-18. Yadadri Thermal Power Station with an installed capacity of 4,000 MW is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 25,099 crore. The project is likely to commence generation from 2018-19.
LED Bulbs for 25
Nagar Panchayats and 3 Districts
The state government has decided to encourage use of LED bulbs for saving power in the state.
Answering to a question raised by V Sathish Kumar and others, Energy minister G Jagadish Reddy said there is a proposal to encourage use of LED bulbs for saving power under Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP) as the use of LED bulbs in the domestic sector helps in saving of conventional electricity. Under this programme 25 nagar panchyats and three districts - Medak, Nalgonda and Nizamabad - will be provided LED bulbs as a pilot project.
He said an estimated 34.5 million units of power is expected to be saved by using LED bulbs in 25 nagar panchayats, while 185 million units of power will be save through the initiative in three districts.
Corporation to Encourage Horticulture
Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy said the state government is contemplating establishment of Horticulture Corporation to encourage horticulture, floriculture and cultivation of vegetables in the state.
Answering to a question by D Manohar Reddy and others, Srinivas Reddy said there is also a proposal to develop 3 to 4 clusters for each district based on soil type to encourage cultivation of fruits, vegetables, spices and flowers to ensure self sufficiency in horticulture production.
The proposal will be prepared considering the population, requirement and present availability after assessing the demand and supply gap in corporations, municipalities and surrounding villages of that clusters besides meeting the requirement of Hyderabad city.
According to the proposal one cluster will be taken up in each district as a model from 2016-17. He also assured that there is a proposal to fill up the vacant posts in Horticulture department.
Buildings for Urdu Schools
Deputy Chief Minister and education minister Kadiyam Srihari informed the Assembly that the state government is planning to construct buildings for Urdu medium schools wherever the schools are functioning on rented buildings. The schools will be selected based on enrolment of students and availability of space.
A total of 1,571 Urdu medium schools are functioning in the state of which 1,014 are primary schools, 208 are upper primary schools and 349 are high schools.
In Hyderabad, 490 schools are functioning of which 338 are primary schools, 26 are upper primary schools and 126 high schools.
He said that out of 1,571 Urdu medium schools, 219 are functioning in private buildings having sufficient infrastructure facilities, schools have an average teacher-pupil ratio of 1:25.
Local Bodies
Fail to Pay Rs 381 cr Library Cess
To a question posed by BJP floor leader K Laxman, deputy Chief Minister K Srihari said that the local bodies have not remitted the library cess of Rs 380.70 crore to the District Grandhalaya Samsthas (library department). GHMC has not remitted Rs 301.70 crore dues up to 2013-14.
Education department is trying to persuade the local bodies for remitting the library cess.