Latest news with #PanchayatRajandRuralDevelopment
Hans India
28-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Construction of 50,000 farm ponds completed
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh's ambitious project to construct 1.55 lakh farm ponds has reached a significant milestone, with 50,000 ponds now completed. The districts of Alluri Sitarama Raju (7,566), Parvathipuram Manyam (6,317), and Annamayya (5,181) lead the charge, securing the top three positions in completion rating. Commissioner of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development VR Krishna Teja Mylavarapu highlighted the multifaceted benefits of farm ponds for farmers, calling them a 'crop lifeline.' He stated that these ponds enable farmers to cultivate long-term income-generating plants like papaya, banana, guava, and curry leaves. The stored water can also be utilised for spraying pesticides and even for pisciculture. Furthermore, he noted that constructing a farm pond in fields with borewells can increase groundwater levels, allowing farmers to cultivate larger areas. Additional income and cost savings for farmers With the onset of the monsoon season, the Commissioner urged farmers to leverage the opportunity to grow leafy greens and vegetables on the earthen bunds around the farm ponds, thereby generating additional income. He also announced that the cost of seeds for these vegetables would be included in the work estimates and reimbursed to farmers through MGNREGA funds. The Commissioner emphasised that the construction of farm ponds under the MGNREGA scheme is free of charge, saving farmers up to Rs 50,000. He encouraged every farmer to overcome any hesitation about losing land area and embrace these multi-purpose farm ponds to reap the numerous benefits. He further detailed the impressive water conservation capacity of these ponds, stating that each farm pond can store 1.8 lakh litres of rainwater from a single rainfall event. Collectively, the 1.55 lakh farm ponds have the potential to store approximately one TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of rainwater at once.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Special officers appointed for Saraswati Pushkaralu; Minister Sridhar Babu inspects preparations
To ensure effective sanitation management during the upcoming Saraswati Pushkaralu, the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (PR & RD) Department has appointed 50 special officers. These include four District Panchayat Officers (DPOs), four District Level Panchayat Officers (DLPOs), 14 Mandal Parishad Development Officers (MPDOs), and 28 Mandal Panchayat Officers (MPOs). They will report to the Jayashankar Bhupalpally Collector and coordinate with ground-level staff to maintain cleanliness throughout the festival. The 12-day Saraswati Pushkaralu will begin on May 15 at Triveni Sangamam near Kaleshwaram, where the Godavari, Pranahita, and the invisible Saraswati rivers converge. The State government is making elaborate preparations to ensure the event is a grand success. As part of these efforts, IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu, who represents the Manthani Assembly constituency that includes Kaleshwaram, inspected the arrangements on Sunday. He stressed the need for quality in all works related to the festival, particularly in sanitation, electrification and security. He also directed officials to prepare a minute-to-minute schedule to ensure smooth conduct of the festivities. The Minister conducted an inspection of key areas, including the VIP ghat, the Goddess Saraswati statue, and other sites. He directed officials to expedite pending works, such as completing the main building for Pindapradhanam, and recommended robust security measures for pilgrims. He also called for special officers from the Endowments Department to oversee the special Aarti programme. The government is setting up a tent city in Kaleshwaram, with provisions for temporary lighting, toilets and uninterrupted power supply. Daily food distribution for devotees, along with transportation and crowd control arrangements, will also be in place. A 17-foot monolithic idol of Goddess Saraswati has been placed at the newly built Saraswati Ghat. With the Chief Minister and Governor expected to visit during the festival, the government is making all efforts to ensure a grand and successful celebration. The Minister instructed officials to install street lights, repair roads, and ensure cleanliness throughout the town. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining quality in all works and warned contractors that action will be taken if quality is compromised. Principal Secretary of the Endowments Department Shailaja Ramiyer, Endowments director S. Venkata Rao, Jayashankar Bhupalpally Collector Rahul Sharma and Superintendent of Police (SP) Kiran Khare accompanied him.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Survey completed for 4,000 km of rural roads under HAM infrastructure initiative in Telangana
The survey has been completed for approximately 4,000 kilometres of rural roads across nine erstwhile combined districts in Telangana as part of the government's ambitious plan to upgrade and expand road connectivity under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM). It marks a key preparatory step in the HAM programme aimed at improving road links from village panchayats to mandal headquarters, district centres, and ultimately to the State capital. With the Panchayat Raj Engineering Department appointed as the nodal agency for executing the project, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Dhanasari Anasuya (Seethakka) has been regularly conducting review meetings with officials to initiate the works at the earliest under this new model. The Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department's Engineer-in-Chief (ENC) will serve as the programme convenor, tasked with overseeing implementation and coordination across the three planned phases of work. Under the HAM project, the State government aims to develop 18,484 kilometres of Panchayat Raj (PR) roads and 12,000 kilometres of Roads and Buildings (R&B) roads. The works will be carried out in three phases — Phase I covering 7,393 km, Phase II covering 5,545.20 km, and Phase III covering 5,545.80 km. To support the project's technical, financial, and legal evaluation, the government has appointed a consortium of AARVEE Associates and LEA Associates to conduct detailed feasibility studies. These consultants will commence district-wide assessments within two days by deploying teams across all districts. Road proposals have been finalised by department officials after obtaining consent from the MLAs in their respective constituencies. According to the implementation schedule, Phase I works are set to begin in January 2026, followed by Phase II in March 2026, and Phase III in June 2026. The HAM model, already in use in several States, involves shared financing, with private contractors required to bear a portion of the project cost and undertake maintenance responsibilities for 15 years, without any government guarantee. Minister Seethakka said she has instructed officials to expedite tendering, finalise agreements, and ensure all preparatory measures are completed in a timely manner. A special officer has been appointed at the Panchayat Raj Engineering Department's headquarters to monitor progress and ensure adherence to deadlines. The funding for the road projects will be finalised once the State Cabinet approves the DPRs being prepared by the consultancies.
New Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Stone laid for Rs 34 crore area hospital in Andhra's Pithapuram
KAKINADA: Deputy Chief Minister (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development) Pawan Kalyan inaugurated a series of major development initiatives, and laid foundation stones for key infrastructure projects during his visit to Pithapuram constituency on Friday. The projects, spanning health, culture, and agriculture, mark a significant step in fulfilling his election promises, besides fast-tracking constituency development. A major highlight of the visit was the laying of foundation for a 100-bed area hospital in Pithapuram, estimated to cost Rs 34 crore. The facility will replace the existing 30-bed hospital, and include two new blocks, an outpatient ward, mortuary, dialysis unit, blood bank, and modern medical equipment. 'This hospital will benefit over three lakh people of Pithapuram constituency and six neighbouring mandals,' he said, adding that the project was a commitment made during his election campaign. The Deputy Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for a TTD Kalyana Mandapam at U Kothapalli costing Rs 2 crore. Under the Endowments Department's initiatives, foundation stones were laid for the renovation of Sri Sitarama Swamy Devasthanam temple precinct in Gollaprolu at a cost of Rs 1.32 crore, and for a Kalakshetra Mandapam and Rathashala in Chebrolu, costing Rs 48 lakh. He also distributed agricultural equipment to local farmers. Pawan Kalyan said Rs 100 crore worth of development works have been initiated in the constituency within nine months of the coalition government's formation. 'Our aim is to bring visible, people-centered development to every corner of the Assembly segment,' he said.
New Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Andhra Government failed to clear NREGA wage dues: YSRCP
VIJAYAWADA: YSRCP Panchayat Raj Wing State president Vennapusa Ravindra Reddy strongly criticised Deputy Chief Minister (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development) Pawan Kalyan for celebrating the National Panchayat Raj Day while over 11 weeks of MGNREGA wages remain unpaid to workers. He questioned how poor labourers, especially in drought-hit regions like Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra, are expected to celebrate when they haven't received their rightful earnings since February 6. Despite Pemmasani Chandrasekhar being the Union Minister of State for Rural Development, the NDA coalition government in the State has failed to clear wage dues, pushing lakhs of workers into migration, he alleged. Ravindra Reddy accused TDP leaders of massive corruption in the appointment of Mates under the employment scheme, collecting bribes of up to Rs 15 lakh per post, and drawing fake wages using forged signatures, while genuine workers are ignored. With no new jobs initiated from April 1, and old bills still remain unpaid, the State's 47 lakh active job card holders are left in distress. The Ombudsman system, meant to check corruption in MGNREGA, has been defunct for nine months, and even pro-TDP media has raised concern in this regard, he said.
