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The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan moots ‘war room' for monitoring drinking water supply
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Panchayat Raj & Rural Development (PR&RD) K. Pawan Kalyan has instructed officials to set up 'drinking water war rooms' in the Rural Water Supply (RWS) Department head office and the Collectorates to constantly monitor the water supply situation and solve the problems in the least possible time. Addressing a meeting of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers organised by the PR&RD Department on the occasion of May Day, near Mangalagiri, in Guntur district on Thursday, Mr. Pawan Kalyan emphasised the need to link agriculture with the scheme, while pointing out that it required a recommendation by the 16th Finance Commission, and that the State government would talk to the Centre about the proposal. He said the funds given to the PR&RD Department under the MGNREGS were like oxygen, and a host of development works were being taken up with the money, and top priority had been given to provision of safe drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Mr. Pawan Kalyan said the State government submitted proposals worth ₹87,000 crore to the Centre for various projects under the JJM, and approvals were received for about ₹29,000 crore, which had to be utilised till 2028. 'More funds are needed for rolling out the mission, but the State has to wait for the Centre to overcome its constraints in order to fund the schemes in Andhra Pradesh,' he said. Further, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said the government was working out ways to involve youth in the MGNREGS works so that they could earn, and in the process be helpful in creating assets for the State. He said the MGNREGS workers were indispensable for the development of the nation. Therefore, the State government gave due priority to their welfare and it could increase the daily wage by scrupulously conducting social audits. The occupation of every person in society, be it a doctor, a scientist, or a worker who does physical work for a living should be respected as per the fundamental principle of 'dignity of labour' A sum of ₹10,600 crore was spent on MGNREGS in the State the previous year, including ₹6,190 crore on wages. A host of development works were being executed as part of the 'Palle Panduga', he added. Principal Secretary (PR&RD) Shashibhushan Kumar, Commissioner M.V.R.K. Teja and Director (MGNREGS) Shanmukh Kumar were among those present.
New Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Local bodies need fiscal stability to achieve rapid development: Andhra Deputy CM Pawan
VIJAYAWADA: Deputy Chief Minister (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development) Konidela Pawan Kalyan underscored the need for financial, political and social stability to local bodies. Participating in the National Panchayat Raj Day (NPRD) celebrations in Mangalagiri on Thursday, Pawan Kalyan said the coalition government is providing funds to panchayats irrespective of political affiliations. While stating that the Gram Panchayats should achieve self-reliance, he aspired that local bodies should stand as the centres of national integrity and stability. 'I like the villages very much, and had a strong desire to live there. But it did not happen,' he said. Mentioning that he took the portfolio of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (PR&RD) out of strong liking for it, he revealed that the only thing he told officials after conducting a comprehensive study for two months was to ensure transparency in the department. 'I told the officials to avoid diversion of funds, and ensure transparency in development works and provide basic amenities in villages. The works are now being taken up accordingly,' Pawan Kalyan said. He also highlighted that transparency was ensured in the transfer of employees of the PR&RD department. Asserting that a total revamp was done in the department and the development works are going on at a brisk pace in villages, Pawan Kalyan thanked Principal Secretary Shashi Bhushan Kumar and Commissioner of PR&RD) Krishna Teja Mylavarapu for their efforts in development of rural areas. He promised to clear the bills of contractors, who took up works in villages at the earliest. Accusing the previous government of neglecting the development of villages and diverting funds of the PR&RD in the past five years, he said the coalition government gave Rs 1,121 crore 15th Commission funds directly to Panchayats. Works worth Rs 10,669 crore were taken up in the PR&RD in the first nine months after the formation of the coalition government as per the decisions taken up in the meetings conducted in 13,326 villages. Apart from laying 4,000 km CC roads, 21,564 Gokulalu, 12,950 water troughs and 20,286 farm ponds were completed within a short span, he said and attributed the success to the collective efforts of all. He said efforts are on to lay 1,069 km CC roads in tribal areas under the Adavi Thalli Baata at an estimated cost of Rs 1,005 crore to make Agency areas free from Dolis for shifting people during medical emergencies. Every Panchayat should have a national integrity campus with a pylon, he said.
