Telangana announces action plan to transform villages

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Thursday announced a 60-day special action plan to transform villages and towns with special emphasis on cleanliness and greenery.

The action plan is aimed at introducing the new approach and implementation of the new Panchayat Raj Act and Municipality Act.

Addressing the 73rd Independence Day celebrations at the historic Golconda Fort here, he said the government would release funds from the Finance Commission grants to the local bodies before the commencement of the programme.

Under the first phase of the programme, sanitation in the villages and towns will be improved with the participation of people. Stating that unhygienic conditions are the root cause for the ill health, he said in this 60-day programme, officials and the public representatives with public participation should change the topography of villages and towns.

The Chief Minister said that civil society organisations with the participation of people should work towards totally clearing the garbage.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, also announced that the electricity department will observe 'Power Week' with the participation of the people to replace rusted poles and attend to hanging wires.

"Every village and town should set up the sapling nurseries based on their need with the help of the local bodies and 10 per cent of the village and town budget should be allocated for the growth of greenery. Six saplings will be provided to every house in the villages and towns based on the request made," the Chief Minister said.

He exuded confidence that the dream of 'Bangaru' (golden) Telangana will be realized 'very soon' through moral and committed governance.

He said that Telangana today stood before the country as proud and model state and the foundations needed for the construction of 'Bangaru Telangana' have been laid strongly.

KCR, whose Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) retained power in December 2018, after achieving Telangana state through a great moment, they were carrying out the reconstruction with utmost devotion like performing of a 'Yagnaa'.

He claimed that Telangana's wealth, which was about 4 lakh crore at the time of the state's formation is now worth Rs 8.66 lakh crore.

KCR said in 2018-19 Telangana figured among the top states in Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) with 14.84 per cent growth rate.

He said the government was doing away with the old and obsolete Acts and bringing in the new Acts in tune with the contemporary social reality in the society. A new Revenue Act will be tabled in the budget session of the Assembly to offer hassle-free services to people and farmers.

KCR said that the government doubled the amount of 'Asara' pensions as promised during the elections. "We are giving Rs 3,016 per month to the differently-abled persons and Rs 2,016 to others. We have decided to reduce the eligibility age limit for the old-age pension from 65 to 57 years."

As per the promise made during the elections, the agriculture financial assistance is given under 'Rythu Bandhua' enhanced from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per acre per year.

KCR said that projects on Krishna and Godavari rivers were being completed on a fast track. He noted Kaleshwaram project, a man-made wonder caught the attention of the whole world and was inaugurated in the presence of Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh recently.

KCR said in June 2020, farmers in the state will get an opportunity to get an additional 575 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water.

( With inputs from IANS )