All constituencies to get stadia

Amaravati: Labour and employment minister K. Atchannaidu said in Legislative Council on Wednesday that the government was constructing the stadiums in all the Assembly constituencies in the state to encourage sports.

He further said that he had asked all the MLAs take initiative to allot five acres each in their respective constituencies for the purpose and 75 MLAs allotted land so far. Replying to a question by MLC M V V S Murthi, during the Question Hour, Atchannaidu said that the state government had taken the initiative to conduct National Games in 2018 in AP. He further said that the government would bring out a new sports policy, which would come into force as soon as the state Cabinet approves it.

Criticising the previous government for neglected sports, he said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had instructed for preparation of sport calendar to conduct games throughout the year. “The state government is providing facilities in the government schools for sports and directed corporate and private schools which lack play grounds, to take their students to the available stadiums to play games,” Atchannaidu said.

He said earlier, when the games were conducted mandal committees searched for donors but now the government had set up a fund with Rs 1 crore. If sports persons apply for financial assistance to DSDOs or district collector, they will sanction the fund for conducting sports meets. He urged various associations to avail the funds.

The minister announced that the government was developing the stadiums on Public- Private Participation mode. He said BR Stadium in Guntur city will be developed under PPP mode because the stadium was in a dilapidated condition.

Responding to the question by MLC Gummadi Sandhyarani, minister for social welfare Ravela Kishore Babu said the government was spending all the funds allocated under ST Sub-Plan. Stating that ST welfare department and ITDA were developing infrastructure in tribal areas, he said the government had sanctioned several bridges in the tribal areas and ST constituencies and spending all the funds allocated for ST welfare. He said the government was conducting health camps in the agency areas, in case of need.

To another question by Pilli Subhas Chandrabose and Meka Seshubabu, minister for BC welfare and handlooms Kollu Ravindra said that during the year 2014-15, the government allocated Rs 2,665.09 crore, of which Rs. 2,578 .69 crore was released and the government spent Rs. 2242.16 crore. He said in 2015-16, the government allocated Rs 3,210.15 crore, released Rs. 3,150 .15 crore, and spent Rs 2,573.50 crore.

In 2016-17, Rs 5,107.92 crore was allocated, of which Rs 5,014.17 crore was released and Rs 4,514.53 crore was spent. Ravindra said the government was sanctioning the loans to BCs through BC Corporation to create self-employment up to Rs. 2 lakh with subsidy besides sanctioning scholarships for BC students including assistance for foreign education. He said that the government is extending financial assistance to the EBCs also.

To a question on steps taken for the welfare of weavers, Ravindra said that the government had waived Rs 110 crore bank loans taken by the weavers to fulfil its election promise. “The government is implementing housing scheme, pension scheme for weavers besides constructing work sheds at a cost of Rs.75,000 each. Two hundred clusters will be set up for weavers,” he said.

Irrigation minister Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao replied to a question that the Chief Minister was reviewing Neeru-Chettu programme on a weekly basis and this scheme was being executed by District Water Management Agency. He said the government had spent Rs 1,211 crore under this scheme.