Polavaram project will be completed soon: Vatti

Eluru: State Tourism, Cultural Affairs and Sports Minister Vatti Vasantha Kumar said the State government was going ahead by balancing both development and welfare programmes in the State. Participating as the chief guest at the 67th Independence Day celebrations at the local Parade Grounds here on Thursday, the Minister listed out various development and welfare programmes in the district. He unfurled the national flag and received the guard of honour from police on the occasion.

Poverty alleviation, drive against unemployment and cleanliness should be given priority in taking up programmes, he said. He said that the government could minimise the loss due to the timely action of the district administration in the recent floods. The flood-affected people were supplied with rice and kerosene, he said.

The Minister assured that the multi-purpose Polavaram project that would immensely benefit the district would be completed soon. The pro-farmer government is taking up many programmes for the benefit of farmers. Interest-free loans and mechanisation of farming are some such programmes, he said.

The Minister also said that Rs 200 crore loans would be distributed to all the eligible card holders. The government has taken up modernization of western delta in the district at an estimated cost of Rs 1156 crore and completed works worth Rs, 254 crore so far. Informing that there were 25,600 self help groups in the district, he said these groups would get Rs 663 crore in the form of loans during this year. Under Amma Hastham programme, where nine essential commodities were being distributed for over 10.45 lakh families at the rate of Rs. 185 per kit.

The Minister disclosed that the district stood second in the State in the construction of Indiramma houses. A sum of Rs 708 crore was spent on constructing 1.80 lakh houses. For Schedules Castes and Tribes, 98000 houses were constructed at a cost of Rs 280 crore, he said. Under Indira Jala Prabha programme, lands belonging to SCs and STs were brought under cultivation by spending Rs 41 crore, he said. Under SC, ST Sub Plan, social welfare hostel buildings were repaired and basic facilities augmented at a cost of Rs 4.72 crore, the minister informed.

Narsapuram legislator Kothapalli Subba Rayudu, District Collector Siddharth Jain, district Superintendent of Police M Ramesh, district Joint Collector Dr Baburao Naidu, District Revenue officer Prabhakar Rao, DRDA Project Director Y Ramakrishna, District Chief Planning officer Satyanarayana and others were present.