Lokesh ministry receives lion’s share in budget

Amaravati: The panchayat raj and rural development headed by minister Nara Lokesh got Rs 23,439 crore, the second highest fund allocation in the budget, after general education sector for 2018-19. The general education sector stands first with Rs 24,185.75 crore fund allocation registering 18.65 per cent hike.  

The government allocated Rs 21,140 crore in the last year budget and now it allocated Rs 20,815 crore alone in the budget for rural development. Finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said the government gave top priority for rural development and added the formation of internal roads for 30,546 km was completed against total plan of 56,735 km road construction. 

Elaborating on various ongoing works, Yanamala said 8,000 community treatment plants for drinking water supply were developed under the NTR Sujala Sravanti programme and the government had also decided to solve drinking water problem permanently by setting up an AP Drinking Water Supply Corporation in the state.