ZP chief vows focus on rural growth in Chittoor

Chittoor: Zilla Parishad (ZP) Chairperson Girvani Chandra Prakash said that the ZP has played a crucial role in rural development in the last two-and-a-half years. She presided over the function held at the ZP Meeting Hall here on Monday, on the occasion of the National Panchayati Raj Day.

The ZP chief said that all the 65 mandals in the district were declared drought-hit. She vowed to focus on development in rural areas across the district. “We have diverted all available funds towards transportation of water to villages facing acute water shortage,” she added. Girvani stated that Cement Concrete (CC) roads will be laid in villages at a cost of Rs 19.23 crore and Rs 2.69 crore for construction of buildings to 109 Anganwadi centres.

District Collector P S Pradyumna said that the state government is committed to developing the villages. He pointed out that the government has released massive funds for the construction of school buildings, Anganwadi centres and for laying cement concrete roads in villages for improving road connectivity. The government is encouraging the use of LED bulbs to conserve energy in villages, he added.

On the request made by ZP chief for laying 2,000 km CC roads in the district, the Collector assured of laying 1,000 km during the year with an estimated cost of Rs 120 crore. He instructed the concerned officials to ascertain the gravity of drinking water problem in the district and submit him a comprehensive report immediately. He reiterated that funds would never be the constraint for initiating the developmental works in the district.

TDP district president and MLC G Srinivasulu said former Chief Minister N T Rama Rao had introduced the mandal system to usher development in the villages. TDP district leaders Chandra Prakash and Rajeswari, ZP CEO P Kishore, Accounts Officer Venkata Ratnam, Superintendent Prabhakara Reddy and others were present.