Vijayawada:Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday directed officials of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) department to immediately resolve issues related to outsourcing employees. He sought complete details after reports emerged that several areas in Visakhapatnam were affected by water supply disruptions due to a strike by outsourcing staff.Officials informed the Chief Minister that the issue in Visakhapatnam had been resolved with the active involvement of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) officials. Naidu instructed MA&UD Minister P Narayana to convene a cabinet sub-committee meeting to focus on resolving the matter at the earliest. He emphasised the importance of ensuring uninterrupted services, especially during a season when the spread of infectious diseases is more likely.The chief minister advised prioritising cleanliness in urban areas and taking immediate preventive measures against infectious diseases. He highlighted the need to combat the mosquito menace and ensure the availability of safe drinking water. He directed officials to identify vulnerable areas where water contamination could occur and take action to prevent any outbreaks.Naidu also stressed the need to improve air quality in urban areas. He asked officials to ensure that roads are cleaned daily using mechanized sweeping machines to curb dust pollution. He emphasized proper disposal of poultry waste and maintaining high standards of hygiene at Anna Canteens. He urged urban local bodies to become self-reliant in generating power, including for streetlighting.Additionally, Naidu instructed officials to secure maximum funds under various centrally-sponsored schemes in the municipal sector. He criticised the previous government for failing to provide the state’s share in many schemes, which led to the loss of central funds. He called for the revival of all centrally sponsored schemes and the expedited implementation of projects funded by Rs 5,800 crore from the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB) and Rs 3,000 crore under the Swachh Bharat Mission. He stressed there should be no delays in executing projects under AMRUT, AMRUT 2.0, AIIB, and the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF).
