Latest news with #MunicipalAdministration&UrbanDevelopment
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh Secretariat launches jute bag stalls as part of drive against single-use plastics
In a step towards making Andhra Pradesh free of single-use plastics by June 5, 2026, the Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD) Department on Thursday launched jute bag stalls at the State Secretariat. The initiative, organised under the aegis of the Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA), was inaugurated by MA&UD Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar. Speaking at the event, Mr. Suresh Kumar said that from August 15, the Secretariat would be declared single-use plastic-free. The newly set-up stalls aim at promoting the use of eco-friendly alternatives such as jute bags in place of plastic carrybags. He noted that the drive aligned with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's call to make Andhra Pradesh a plastic-free State by the World Environment Day-2026. As part of the campaign, the Secretariat would replace plastic bottles, cups, plates, stickers, sachets, and carrybags with reusable and biodegradable materials. Other key measures included installation of RO water plants in all the Secretariat blocks, free distribution of reusable stainless steel water bottles to employees, and placement of three-colour dustbins for collection of solid, liquid, and e-waste. Mr. Suresh Kumar stressed that the plan was being implemented in mission mode with a strong action plan, in collaboration with the Swachh Andhra Corporation. He urged all the Secretariat employees and visitors to cooperate in making the programme a success. MEPMA Managing Director Tej Bharat participated.
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh Government issues revised guidelines for building permissions under self-certification scheme
In a significant step towards streamlining and accelerating construction activity, the Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) on Sunday (July 13, 2025) released Revised Guidelines for Building Permissions under Self-Certification Scheme (SCS) – 2025. The SCS is aimed at 'revolutionising building permissions' for enhanced Ease and Speed of Doing Business, and boosting the real estate sector, Principal Secretary (Municipal Administration & Urban Development) S. Suresh Kumar stated in G.O. Ms No.120. He mentioned that the core objectives of the SCS 2025 include making the building environment safe, inclusive, environmentally sustainable, and contributing to economic development by enhancing the Ease of Doing Business and cultivating an investment-friendly environment. SCS 2025 facilitates a reduction of compliance burden and deregulation in alignment with efforts being made to avail incentives under the Central Government's Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) 2025-26. The revised guidelines would be integrated as Chapter–XIV with the existing Andhra Pradesh Building Rules of 2017. A fundamental aspect of the SCS is the proactive delegation of enforcement power and responsibilities (with regard to the building permissions) directly to Licensed Technical Persons (LTPs) and citizens on a trust basis. The Online Building Permission System (OBPS) envisioned in the SCS is equipped to scrutinize applications and issue building permission proceedings instantaneously on payment of necessary fees and charges on a trust basis. Mr. Suresh Kumar stated that the applicants would be free to begin constructions immediately upon obtaining permissions through OBPS. Another highlight of the SCS is that supervisory checks of self-certified buildings by Town Planning functionaries is being dispensed with. All building plan applications along with essential documents, fees, and mortgage details, have to be submitted through the OBPS by an LTP. A self-certification proforma has to be signed by both the applicant and the LTP, affirming the authenticity and accuracy of all submitted information and documents. The G.O. says that in the initial phase, the SCS will be applicable to non-high rise residential building plan permissions for plot areas of up to 4,000 square metres, including plots in approved layouts, layouts regularised under the Land Regularisation Schemes of 2008 and 2020, village sites and 'gramakantam', areas with approved circulation patterns, and redevelopment of existing buildings with prior approved plans or the ones existing before 1985. The scheme also covers the establishment of white category industries defined by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board provided the site area is up to 500 square metres. The revised guidelines under SCS are applicable to all Urban Local Bodies and Gram Panchayats within the jurisdiction of Urban Development Authorities including APCRDA (excluding the capital city area) for sites measuring 300 square metres or above. The building owners have to bear the sole responsibility for adhering to the approved building plan throughout the construction process while the LTPs are mandated to ensure that no misrepresentation of documents or facts occurs and that all plans comply with the master plan and zoning regulations concerned and the Andhra Pradesh Building Rules, 2017.
Hans India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Promises will be fulfilled in phased manner: Narayana
Nellore: Minister of Municipal Administration & Urban Development Ponguru Narayana has asserted that all promises made to people during 2024 elections will be fullfilled in a phased manner. As part of ongoing State government's prestigious 'Suparipalanalo Tholi Adugu' programme, the M&U Minister visited 46 & 50 divisions in Nellore city on Saturday. On the occasion, the Minister detailed the welfare schemes of the coliation government to the people and appealed to them to bless Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu for going ahead with more developmental activities in coming days. Narayana pointed out that the State exchequer was totally emptied due to the mindless decisions adopted by the previous YSRCP government. ' During his five year tenure, former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy always concentrated about how to loot the public money instead of thinking about the welfare of State, ' he alleged. Due to the misrule of previous regime, the coalition government was now grappling with financial crisis, he said. Though there was fund crunch, the coalition government has been fulfilling all promises, the Minister pointed out. Measures are being taken to soon implement 'Annadatha Sukheebhava' scheme. Narayana said that people felt happy and safe during the coalition government's rule during the last one year. He said the State government was ensuring that all eligible derive benefit from the welfare schemes. Former municipal chairman Tallapaka Anuradha, former ZPTC Vijetha Reddy and others were present.
Hans India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Govt to get feedback on sanitation in ULBs
Vijayawada: In a decisive step towards enhancing urban living standards, the Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD) Department of Andhra Pradesh has unveiled a state-wide action plan aimed at significantly improving citizen satisfaction with sanitation services. This initiative forms a key part of the Positive People Perception Tracking (PPT) framework, operational under the state's Real Time Governance System (RTGS), said S Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department. The initiative utilises Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) technology to collect real-time citizen feedback on urban services, with a renewed focus on sanitation. Following a high-level review chaired by the Chief Secretary on June 30, 2025, the government has set ambitious yet achievable satisfaction targets for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), prioritising accountability and timely service delivery. The department of municipal administration and urban development has set satisfaction targets for 17 municipal corporations and 77 municipalities. These targets are on door-to-door garbage collection, garbage dump clearance and desilting drains. For the remaining Nagara Panchayats, IVRS feedback collection will commence from September 2025, said Suresh Kumar. To meet these targets, ULB Commissioners have been directed to initiate immediate and comprehensive measures, in conjunction with field inspections and close supervision by municipal functionaries, he added. The department of municipal administration has made it clear that strict adherence to these protocols is non-negotiable, and any lapse will be viewed with seriousness. State-level monitoring mechanisms are already in place to track performance and enforce accountability. This initiative reflects the Andhra Pradesh Government's steadfast commitment to building cleaner, healthier, and more responsive urban environments, driven by citizen feedback and evidence-based governance, said Suresh Kumar.
The Hindu
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
A.P. CM tells officials to mobilise maximum Central funds for MA&UD Department
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has instructed the officials of the Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD) Department to mobilise as much funding as possible from the Centre while duly sorting out issues related to utilisation certificates and clearing of pending bills. He ordered that works taken up under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT), AMRUT-2 and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) schemes should be expedited. Chairing a review meeting on MA&UD Department on Saturday, Mr. Naidu said works for which the AIIB and the Central government sanctioned funds of ₹8,800 crore (₹5,800 crore and ₹3,000 crore respectively) between 2014 and 2019 should also be focused upon. Priority should be given to cleanliness in Municipal Corporations and Municipalities and measures should be taken to check the spread of infectious diseases during the monsoon season, he said. Mr. Naidu asked the officials to initiate measures to curb mosquito breeding and to ensure that the drainage systems function properly, and prevent the contamination of drinking water. Pointing out that poultry waste was posing a health hazard, he wanted a dedicated poultry waste management policy to be formulated soon. The Chief Minister wanted steps to be taken to increase the demand for products made by the DWCRA groups to increase their incomes. The due focus should be laid on improving their skills, and making the most of e-commerce platforms and other online channels that would open up new markets for their products, he said. Further, Mr. Naidu exhorted the Urban Local Bodies to generate the electricity required for streetlighting. The government would soon have detailed discussions on the urban housing and take necessary steps to improve the situation, he said. He asked the officials to speed up the setting up sewage treatment plants in municipalities. Addressing the media later, MA&UD Minister P. Narayana said the government was giving a top priority to creation of social infrastructure such as clean drinking water, streetlighting in municipalities, roads, parks and sanitation facilities. Steps were being taken to provide 100% protected drinking water to all municipal corporations and municipalities and green signal has been obtained for commencing works under AMRUT scheme. Waste-to-energy plants The Minister said 8,000 tonnes of solid waste was being generated daily and efforts were underway to generate electricity from it. A decision was taken between 2014 and 2019 to set up 10 waste-to-energy plants. At present, only two such plants are in operation in Guntur and Visakhapatnam. Six more such plants would be set up in Rajahmundry, Nellore, Kadapa, Kurnool, Vijayawada and Tirupati soon. These plants would convert 7,500 tonnes of waste into electricity daily and the rest 500 tonnes would be safely disposed of. The clearing of legacy waste of 85 lakh tonnes would be completed by October 2, he said. TIDCO Houses Mr. Narayana said the construction of five lakh TIDCO houses began between 2014 and 2019, but the previous YSRCP government had reduced the number to 2.60 lakh. Since loans were raised before the allocation of houses was done to the beneficiaries, they fell into the non-payment category, which forced the current government to shell out ₹140 crore to revive them, he added.
