Minister for IT and Panchayat Raj N. Lokesh has requested Union Minister for Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar to release ₹1,351.81 crore towards material budget under the MGNREGS that is due to the State and ₹600 crore for the labour budget.
In a meeting with Mr. Tomar in New Delhi on Thursday, Mr. Lokesh said the Centre should extend assistance for laying 4,772 km of roads in 2,207 habitations that had been wrongly shown by the previous government as connected. The project is estimated to cost ₹3,185 crore. These habitations need to be recognised as having no road facility now and given the necessary funds.
A sum of ₹165 crore was due to the Swachh Andhra Corporation towards the second instalment for construction of Individual Sanitary Latrines (ISL), Mr. Lokesh stated. He also sought Central assistance for setting up RO plants in villages affected by fluorosis under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme.
Secretaries of the Government of India Jitendra Shankar (PR) and Amarjeet Sinha (Rural Development) were present.
Felicitates Venkaiah
Earlier, Mr. Lokesh felicitated Vice-President-elect M. Venkaiah Naidu. He told the media that Mr. Naidu’s elevation was a loss to Andhra Pradesh, but good for the country.
“A day ahead of his swearing-in, Mr. Naidu told me that development of a few roads in Udayagiri (his native constituency) is due, which shows his commitment to public service,” Mr. Lokesh said.
“As a young Minister, I sought his cooperation and guidance,” Mr. Lokesh added.
