Panchayat Raj Minister K.T. Rama Rao said the Telangana government will take steps to rid the State of open defecation in the next four years with the increased assistance of the Centre.
Releasing the progress report of the Panchayat Raj Department in the past year, Mr. Rao said 1.45 lakh individual latrines were constructed by the government during the period. There’s still a demand to construct 30 lakh latrines.
Mr. Rao said the government will soon invite tenders for laying pipelines and other works related to drinking water grid at a cost of Rs. 23,000 crore. Tenders for construction of 17 intake wells for Rs. 1,787 crore were already awarded. The ensuing rainy season will not hamper works on the wells as they had reached a safe stage from submergence.
The government was in touch with Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-Water) for partnership in the water grid programme. The grid works will be taken up in a transparent manner.
On the collection of taxes by gram panchayats, the Minister said the collection was a record 67 per cent. As many as 2,217 out of 8,867 panchayats achieved 100 per cent collection. The government will use Mana TV, a government run channel, to train rural youth in competitive exams. The Rural Development Department will participate in the greenery drive of the government by taking up avenue plantation along with construction and repair of rural roads.
