Palakurthy: Expedite Bhagiratha works, Errabelli tells officials

Palakurthy (Jangaon): Minister for Panchayat Raj Errabelli Dayakar Rao told the officials to gird up their loins to complete the remaining work of Mission Bhagiratha to provide safe drinking water to all the households in the State.

Speaking at a meeting aimed at creating awareness about the Mission Bhagiratha among the people's representatives here on Friday, he directed the officials to speed up the works so that safe drinking water would be supplied to all households at the earliest.

"The significance of the Mission Bhagiratha, the brainchild of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, needs to be understood. It was aimed at not just quenching the thirst of the people but also to provide safe drinking water. Hence, the onus is on everyone to monitor the progress of Bhagiratha works," Errabelli said, stating that Bhagiratha had become a beacon for other States in the country.

The role of the people's representatives is key. They need to cooperate with the officials to ensure the completion of Bhagiratha works, he said. The government used to spend a lot of money for drinking water supply and this problem would be tackled once for all after the completion of Bhagiratha works, he added.

Even though the Central government had failed to assist the State, KCR had initiated the Rs 45,000-crore Bhagiratha programme to cater to the drinking water needs of the people in the State, he said.

Referring to the Palle Pragathi, the 30-day special action plan aimed at spurring inclusive growth of the panchayats, Errabelli said that it should be taken up as a round-the-year programme. "The aim is to improve greenery and cleanliness besides providing basic amenities," the Minister said. He told the sarpanches and panchayat secretaries to focus on sanitation and water harvesting by involving all the villagers.