The State government which completed 4500 km of internal cement concrete roads in villages is targeting 5000 km this financial year, said Minister for Panchayat Raj, Rural Water Supply and MNREGS Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu.
Last year, the project was taken up with 50 per cent funding from the 14{+t}{+h}Finance Commission funds to the panchayats and the balance from the MNREGS including the material component. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed the department to work out the proposals to minimise the burden on the gram panchayats. This year on, panchayat funds would account only for 10 per cent and the balance would be from the MNREGS, the Minister told media here on Tuesday after reviewing the subject with officials.
The State’s achievement in internal cc roads project can be gauged from the fact that last year all other States together had laid only 1800 km cc roads against the State’s 4000 km.
All other States were studying our model. “This is one project that has given me immense satisfaction of having done something concrete,” said the Minister.
The Department is also taking up laying of underground drainage in the villages alongside the cc roads. “We have had a successful pilot project in West Godavari district and are now taking it up in 50 villages in each district. The UG drainage would go a long way in ensuring clean environment in the villages.”
The Department had planned an annual outlay of Rs. 2000 crore for the cc roads and would complete laying internal roads in all the 13,000 panchayats in the next three years, he said.
Drinking water
The Department had drawn up a plan to address the water scarcity in summer months and released Rs. 200 crore for it. Last year, 2800 tankers supplied water to the villages reeling under scarcity. This year the planning had helped bring down the number to just 860.
The department had drilled alternate borewells in Rayalaseema and where required even hired private borewells to supply drinking water.
The department had identified problem areas and water sources and taken steps to ensure that all villages had sustainable supply, he said.
