The Hindu : Naidu unveils massive sanitation plan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Naidu unveils massive sanitation plan

By Our Staff Reporter

WARANGAL JULY 10. The Andhra Pradesh Government would launch a massive sanitation drive in the State in the next three days after releasing Rs. 5,000 each to minor gram panchayats and Rs. 10,000 each to major gram panchayats, according to the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu.

The Chief Minister paid a surprise visit to the district and dashed to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Hospital where scores of children succumbed to the mystery disease. He visited the children's ward and interacted with parents and officials.

Setting aside his usual Janmabhoomi programme, the Chief Minister planned his programme and went round the town and two villages. Public representatives and officials were informed of his visit at the last minute. At Ramannapet in the town, the Chief Minister suddenly alighted the vehicle and visited the colony on the roadside.

On spotting pigs and the squalid conditions, he expressed unhappiness over the functioning of the Corporation. He pointed a finger at the Commissioner, K. Devanand, and the Mayor, T. Rajeswar Rao. The Chief Minister wanted them to shift the families rearing pigs to the outskirts by rehabilitating them.

Later, the Chief Minister went to Kondaparthy village and consoled the family which lost their child Kota Anil (7). He promised Rs. 50,000 to the family and Rs. 20 lakhs to the village for taking up roads and drains immediately.

At Illanda village in Wardhannapet mandal, he visited Uppalaiah and Narasamma who lost their son J. Raju (6) and sanctioned a house under the IAY. He directed the Collector, N. Shiva Shanker, to release Rs. 10 lakhs to the panchayat.

Speaking to newsmen, Mr. Naidu said the disease still remained a mystery and reports from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases and the National Institute of Virology were awaited. An expert committee was constituted to look into the issue. According to him, of the 65 children admitted to the MGM Hospital, 31 died of suspected encephalitis.

As part of the special sanitation drive, intense efforts would be launched to control mosquito growth and clean the surroundings. "Unless people are involved, no programme will yield results. The Government will do its duty but people should do their bit,'' he said at several places. Referring to the functioning of the Medical Department, the Chief Minister said he had always expressed unhappiness.

"There are some good officers and bad ones too,'' he said adding that the Jangaon RDO, Manik Rao, was being recalled to Hyderabad as he failed to be effective.

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