EG Collector bats for rural development

Kakinada: East Godavari Collector H Arun Kumar on Thursday said that both the agriculture and rural development have been given top priority for overall development including per capita income.

Addressing the 68th Republic Day celebrations organised at district police parade grounds here, the Collector disclosed the measures that have been initiated towards achieving this goal. As a part of double digit growth, the Collector said that in total Rs 7,094 crore had been allotted for both Khariff and Rabi crops in the present year of 2016-17 apart from lending to MSME, purchase of agriculture appliances and allied activity. Arun Kumar also disclosed the details of comprehensive support being extended to horticulture and micro irrigation in the district in addition to the diversified crop cultivation to provide additional source of income to farming community.

As far as rural development associated with irrigation projects concerned, he said that apart from groom Polavaram, project to save surplus water the pushkara Lift Irrigation inter-linking Godavari with Yeleru is also being given top priority with allocations of Rs 1,638 crore. This project will provide water sources to 67, 614 acres under Yeleru and another 20,000 scares under Pithapuram Branch canal.