Vijayawada: Guntur district in-charge and tourism minister Kandula Durgesh has reiterated the state government’s commitment to ensure the comprehensive development of Guntur district.
Officials must ensure that government welfare initiatives reach the public effectively through their coordination with people’s representatives, the minister said at the district-level coordination committee meeting in Guntur on Tuesday.
Durgesh conducted an extensive review of sectors spanning agriculture, marketing, civic supplies, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry, industries, skill development, housing, medical services and the welfare of women and children.
He emphasised the need for ministers, local MLAs, MLCs and officials to jointly devise a clear action plan to speed up social and economic development of the district.
The minister told the officials that informing MLAs about government welfare statistics would help them gauge the extent of such benefits being provided to the people. The revenue and agriculture departments, along with banks, must coordinate effectively.
“The state government is working towards protection of tenant farmers and will introduce a new law for their benefit soon. They should not face difficulties with bank loans or in receiving their CCRC cards,” he said, and asked the officials to resolve related issues by March 15.
The minister discussed additional water facilities in agriculture, focusing on the expansion of the Guntur Canal and the modernization of irrigation canals. He inquired about the progress of ongoing works under the ‘Mana Badi – Mana Bhavishyathu’ initiative and said updates on housing details must be provided to eligible beneficiaries under the PMAY by February. He insisted on the swift completion of house constructions for eligible beneficiaries.
Durgesh sought information about the medical services on offer at Guntur GGH, urging doctors to provide quality healthcare to the underprivileged arriving from various regions. He also checked on the status of the burn wards.
Addressing the need for pothole-free roads in Guntur, the minister learned from officials that patchwork on 335km of roads (65 per cent) had been completed, and that the remaining works would be done by February 15.
On the free gas cylinder scheme, minister Nadendla Manohar noted that there are 1.48 crore white ration cardholders and 1.55 crore gas connections in AP. He said officials had identified an excess of 8 lakh gas connections due to removal of cardholders from the system. The issue would be referred to village and ward secretariats for resolution next week.
Manohar said 3.83 lakh free gas cylinders have been distributed in Guntur district. Rajya Sabha MP, Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy, MLAs from different constituencies and a host of officials participated in the meeting.
