HYDERABAD: Admitting that the state is encountering a severe drinking water shortage and depleting ground water levels have added to the crisis, Panchayat Raj minister K T Rama Rao said that a contingency action plan of Rs 310.61 crore has been prepared for taking up immediate temporary measures such as flushing, deepening of water sources, hiring of private sources and transportation in 12,616 vulnerable habitations of 231 drought declared mandals.
Replying to a question raised by Congress member P Ajay Kumar and others, Rama Rao said ground water levels have fallen drastically in almost all places in the state and rural areas are facing severe drinking water crisis. Even the cattle are not getting fodder and drinking water in rural areas.
Rama Rao said the state government has prepared an action plan of Rs 31.55 crore for the districts of Adilabad and Khammam, which are not declared as drought affected.
Another action plan under Non Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) has been prepared for Rs 217.24 crore to attend urgent nature of works like replacement of old motor pumps, motor repairs, replacement of old pipelines, valves etc. One chief engineer has been deputed for every two districts for close monitoring, Rama Rao added.
Govt Hosps in Twin Cities Lack Hygiene
Health minister C Laxma Reddy admitted that the government hospitals in the state particularly in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are not able to maintain hygienic conditions due to lack of infrastructure and required strength of staff.
Answering a question raised by MIM MLAs Akbarudding Owaisi and others, Laxma Reddy said a budget of Rs 30.33 crore and Rs 35.31 crore which has been allocated, was released and spent for sanitation and security during the years 2014-15 and 2015-16 respectively. However, he denied that there is acute shortage of emergency drugs and many posts are lying vacant in the government hospitals.
New Policy to Boost Handloom Sector
The state government has decided to come up with a new Textile Policy to strengthen handloom sector. As part of the steps to encourage textile sector, plans are afoot to establish a mega Textile Park in Warangal, which will become the textile bub of the state, textiles minister Jupally Krishna Rao told Assembly on Sunday. The new mega textile park will come up in about 2000 to 3000 acres of land in Warangal district, the minister said and added that the park will attract small and tiny entrepreneurs from across the country.