The State government has allotted Rs. 27,000 crore for a massive drive to harvest rain water under the Neeru-Chettu programme, Minister for Panchayat Raj Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu said here on Saturday.
Under the programme, a water tank would be dug at every village to tap rain water and store it for various uses. Of the Rs.27,000 crore, Rs.15,000 crore would be drawn from the NREGS, the Minister said at the National Panchayat Raj Day celebrations at Mary Matha High School. Stating that the government was committed to developing villages, he said that an action plan was being drafted to change the face of villages. Under 14th Finance Commission grants, CC roads and drains would be built in all villages.
He said that Rs.1,280 crore had been sanctioned to the Panchayat Raj Department out of the Rs.3,000 crore released under the 13th Finance Commission grants. Even under the 14th Finance Commission grants expected to be around Rs. 4,000 crore. Agriculture Minister P. Pulla Rao said that development of villages was key to nation’s development.
Meanwhile, ZP Chairperson Sk. Janimun said MPPs should get grants from 14th Finance Commission. At a workshop held in New Delhi, she said that MPPs had an equal role in development of mandals .