Will illuminate cities for popular fests

• Goshala will be set up for cows wandering on streets: Narayana
• Says GO 279 will not harm interests of contract sanitation workers

Nellore: Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana said that they would be illuminating the urban areas during important festival days like Dasara, Deepavali, Ramzan etc in association with the power departments in the state. 

He conducted a review with officials of seven civic bodies in the district and said they were taking measures to protect cows in Nellore district and are planning to set up a Goshala in the city on pilot basis for conserving cow population that wander on streets for food. 

The Minister said they had provided sterilisation to 3.25 lakh dogs across the state and set up farms for pig population. He stated that many animals in urban areas such as cows, dogs, and pigs are facing difficulty for existence and they had planned sterilisation for street dogs for preventing spread of population. 

He also said they had arranged farms for pigs in urban areas where they were being quarantined to particular areas. Narayana mentioned that they were conducting Happy Sundays in the state similar to Little India in Singapore where people are getting enjoyment with cultural activities, aerobics, and other regular fitness exercises. 
He said Anganwadi Centres were developed as pre-schools on par with corporate institutions. 

“SC/ST Sub Plan funds and funds under the 14th Finance Commission were utilised for roads and drains across the state and had availed Rs 4,750 crore funds from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank for developing basic amenities in all 110 municipalities,” he stated. 

He said among 4,450 civic bodies across the country, municipalities in the state are getting top ten ranks. He further said 280 km of city roads in Nellore were laid and 200 km of central dividers were also constructed. 

The Minister made it clear that there would be no difficulty for outsourcing staff members with the GO 279 as they had obtained bank guarantees from all agencies.