Panchayat boards to resolve local issues: CM

By Our Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM, JAN. 6. Village panchayat boards headed by the sarpanches would hereafter meet every month to review the developmental works and resolve local issues, Mr.N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister, said here on Saturday.

Talking to reporters during a transit halt at the airport en route Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts, he said that the programmes during Janmabhoomi taken up every four months could as well be implemented every month at the village level.

On the disruption of Janmabhoomi meetings by the people, he wondered if they were agitating on their own or did so on provocation by some political parties. He would look into the reasons for such disruptions and any genuine problem raised during Janmabhoomi would be resolved immediately, he stated. Denying any police interference during the programme, he said that it was being conducted successfully with the help of special officers in 90 divisions, 200 legislators, nodal officers and district collectors.

Commenting on the latest opinion polls that the NDA rule as well as his Government were losing popularity, Mr. Naidu said that ups and downs were but natural. The economy of the State was not very good and the prices soared. The State did not get the 11th Finance Commission funds of Rs.750 crores. ``But I have my own surveys. We are trying to overcome the problems,'' he stated. He refused to comment on the split in Samata Party.

The Chief Minister claimed that plans were being chalked out to ensure steady power and water supply during the next summer. On the reported move to hike power tariff yet again, he said that the APTransco showed a deficit of Rs.2,100 crores. That did not mean the tariff would be hiked. The Electricity Regulatory Authority would have to perform the exercise and inform the Government, he said, adding that it was the Government which suggested replacing the four slabs by six for power tariff for domestic consumers. Energy thefts were stopped, power was saved and by March, supply of power would be under total control, he said.

The panchayat polls would be held during May-June this year and the concept of Janmabhoomi for farmers in urban areas needed to be changed. Guidelines would be framed for the purpose. The next Janmabhoomi would be on women's affairs and ration cards for new applicants would be issued in May.

On reports that action would be taken on Ministers involved in corruption, he said that these were a creation of the media. ``I am able to change everyone except you,'' he told mediapersons. ``All that I want to do is to ensure good governance.''

The Chief Minister was received by Mr.Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu, Minister for Forests, Ms. Manikumari, Minister for Tribal Welfare, Mr.M.V.V.S. Murthy, MP, Mr.P.G.V.R. Naidu, Pendurthi MLA, Mr.J.S.V. Prasad, District Collector, Mr.A.K. Khan, Commissioner of Police, and Telugu Desam leaders at the airport on his arrival in the morning.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Action plan soon on ryots' problems: CM
Next     : Minister interacts with women at basti sabha