Chandrababu Naidu demands linking of NREGA with agriculture

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reiterated that the NREGA should be linked to agriculture works so as to reduce burden on farmers. Explaining that, he stressed the same in the NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting, Chandrababu Naidu, during a teleconference on Monday, said the Centre must implement the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations.

The flaws in implementation of the Minimum Support Price were also raised in the meeting. He discussed on how to double the income of farmers, Chandrababu Naidu said.

The horticulture, crop change and water management in AP were remained as roll models for other states, he explained. He said that the state stood in the third rank in the water management among all the states, according to the NITI Aayog report. It must occupy the first place in water management by effectively utilising the available funds and technology.

The drinking water shortage in the summer was reduced to only five hundred hamlets across the state, which was a result of the efforts put by the state government for the last four years, he said.

He said that the state government completed more than Rs 576 crore works under NREGA within 17 days of this month. More than Rs 1000 crore spent on the works under NREGA in the last month.

The state government is going to spend at least Rs 10,000 crore under the scheme during the current financial year, the Chief Minister said. The solid waste management should be strengthened and there must be awareness among public on it, he added.