Collector assures to strive for all-round development

Tirupati: All round development of the district is the prime goal before the district administration, said Collector PS Pradyumna. He stressed on the need for utilising government machinery efficiently and effectively.

Implementation of government schemes depends largely on how they were executed by the staff at all levels. The focus is laid on this aspect and it is yielding good results, he explained. Speaking at ‘Meet the Press’ programme arranged by Tirupati Press Club here on Wednesday, the Collector stated that to increase accountability each official was allotted one village and they are responsible for the development of that village.

To drive away the drought from the district, priority being given to irrigation projects, he said. Handri-Neeva project was expected to be completed by August 2018. But, due to heavy rains in that region works were delayed. Now, it was decided to complete the works by December 31.

“Through water conservation methods, the Collector said groundwater levels have improved by 15 metres. Towards water conservation, we have sanctioned 6,000 works out of which 4,000 were already in progress. Another 2,000 works have to be taken up,” he stated and said that there were no major breaches to the tanks though they received heavy inflows.

This time, steps are being taken to increase cultivation up to 1.46 lakh hectares. Already, cultivation is underway in 40,000 hectares. Pradyumna advised the farmers not to go for paddy cultivation. “We are encouraging new crops especially horticulture crops which give the farmers good income. A total of 56,000 hectares will be cultivated with horticulture crops.

To provide the agriculture equipment on hire to the farmers in 49 mandals, Pradyumna stated custom hiring centres were opened. Out of a target of providing Rs 5,000 crore loans through banks to the farmers, so far, Rs 3,800 crore were disbursed.

Keeping in view of the Chief Minister’s idea of having 50 per cent forest cover this year, plantation was taken up in 25,000 acres. In about 6-8 years, the district may achieve the target of 50 per cent of forest cover, he said.

Out of a target of laying 750 km cement roads in the villages, 400 km roads were completed. Avenue plantation was completed along 950 km. But, the district is lagging far behind in the State with regard to construction of individual latrines. Steps were being taken to improve this in a big way, he
mentioned.

To have better connectivity and to reduce the number of road accidents significantly, highway expansion works were taken up in a massive scale. He said the survey was completed for the six-lane highway between Chittoor and Tirupati survey is going on between Tirupati and Naidupet and Madanapalle and Chittoor. The district will foster growth with the industrial corridors passing through it.

As textile industry can generate more employment that sector is being encouraged. Pradyumna said, the fevers that became sensational in Varadaiahpalem mandal, were not mysterious or yellow fevers.

They are dengue or viral only and the doctors were given instructions to treat every fever case with utmost care. Deputy Director of I&PR department Thimmappa, Press club president Bhaskar Reddy, Secretary I Subramanyam and others participated.