The district is progressing on all fronts and the State government has initiated many more programmes and schemes to better the lot of all sections of people, Tribal Welfare Minister P. Balaraju said while addressing the gathering at the 66 Independence Day celebrations organised by the District Administration at the Police stadium here on Wednesday.
The celebrations commenced under a light drizzle. Mr. Balaraju unfurled the national flag and reviewed a guard of honour and took salute at a march past. Incidentally this was the first function he attended after recovering from a fracture to his leg.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy was following the footsteps of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and working hard towards development of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Balaraju said and wanted the people to make Mr. Reddy’s Indiramma Baata programme a success in the district from August 27 to 29.
Contingency plan
In view of the failure of monsoon Rs.2 crore worth contingency plan would be implemented and steps were being taken to distribute seeds for alternate crops such as ragi, rajma, etc. at 50 per cent subsidy to farmers. Several steps were being taken for the welfare of farmers like distribution of seeds, fertilizers, and modern equipment, apart from crop loans worth Rs. 326 crore during the present kharif season.
The Minister said work on left canal of the Polavaram project meant to irrigate 1.5 lakh acres and provide drinking water to people, was in progress while modernisation works costing Rs. 31.5 crore at the Tandava and Konam reservoirs would be completed soon. Steps were being taken to complete the Rs. 26 crore reservoirs at the minor irrigation projects on Tacheru, Rangabolugedda, Urakagedda, Palagedda, Kondagedda, Jaggammagedda, and Isukagedda by September.
According to him, 104 heavy industries were being established in the district with an investment of Rs.91,717 crore and nearly 39,000 would get employment. Nearly 6,000 medium and small industries were being proposed with an investment of Rs. 3,830 crore to provide employment to 62,000. He was pleased to note that the district stood third in the State in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS and that the city qualified for the JNNURM Plus allocation for completing most of the present works under JNNURM.
Basic amenities
A Rs.30 crore integrated action plan was being implemented in six Maoist-affected mandals of the Visakha Agency to provide basic amenities in a permanent manner. Systematic measures were being taken to prevent outbreak of malaria and other fevers and disease in the Agency. All steps were being taken to improve the lot of Girijans and vacancies of Junior Managers, junior assistants, and salesmen would be filled up with Scheduled Tribes candidates.
Collector Lav Agarwal, Commissioner of GVMC B. Ramanjaneyulu, Joint Collector Praveen Kumar, MLA Tynala Vijaya Kumar, Commissioner of Police J. Purnachandra Rao, DIG Swati Lakra, Superintendent of Police G. Srinivas and other district officials were present.
Mr. Balaraju presented merit awards to more than 300 officers and employees and distributed Rs. 85 crore worth assets to beneficiaries selected by various government departments.
Pupils of BBV High School, Vijayam School, Sacred Heart High School, Pollocks School, PEN School, NMC High School and Vignan High School presented group dances on the theme of national integration.
