Panchayat Raj Minister K. Taraka Ramarao has ruled out adding more mandals under the ‘Palle Pragathi’ programme for the integrated development of rural areas in 150 backward mandals in the State.
The World Bank aided project is aimed at providing livelihood diversification, productivity enhancement and market access to groups of poor farmers. The project also focuses on health, nutrition security and sanitation for improvement in living standards of people in the backward mandals and to provide access to entitlements at e-seva centres with digital connectivity at panchayat level.
Replying to a question from TRS MLC Karna Prabhakar in the Legislative Council on Monday, Mr. Ramarao said the 150 most backward mandals were identified by SERP based on the lowest human development indicators out of 438 mandals in the State.
ADVERTISEMENT
A total of 2,879 gram panchayats and 10,621 habitations with 38 lakh SC,ST and BC population would be covered under the ‘ ‘Palle Pragathi’ in a five-year period till 2010. While the State government would provide Rs.142 crore, the World Bank would sanction Rs.450 crore during this period, he said.
The State government proposes to take up individual latrines in all households under ‘Swacha Bharath’ and the Centre offered to give 75 per cent funds while the State would bear 25 per cent.
Transport Minister Mahender Reddy, responding to a query from Paturi Sudhakar Reddy, said strict action would be taken to ensure that all vehicles in the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation are run on CNG to check pollution.
ADVERTISEMENT