4,383 new GPs to come into being from August 2

Nagarkurnool: Panchayat Raj Minister Jupally Krishna Rao on Thursday directed officials concerned to take steps on a war-footing to provide basic facilities and infrastructure in 4,383 new village panchayats to be formed from August 2 across the State.

He directed the officials to speed up the process to provide facilities including new buildings, officials and staff and division of assets for new panchayats in the districts in five days. He held a video conference with Collectors, DPOs, DRDOs, ZP CEOs and other officials from Nagarkurnool Collectorate and reviewed several programmes.

Speaking on the occasion, Krishna Rao asked the officials to ensure that the development programmes would not be stalled irrespective of the duration of governing bodies being extended or a special officer being appointed for local bodies by the government.

He exhorted them to take necessary steps for continuing the welfare schemes and development programmes even if the tenure of the governing bodies were going to be completed this month end. Clusters division and rationalisation of secretaries, deputation and appointment of staff and facilities were of paramount importance for the new panchayats to start with, the Minister said.

The Panchayat Raj Minister also directed the officials to immediately disburse funds from 14th Finance Commission among the newly formed village panchayats. He asked them to divide the clusters and take steps for rationalising village secretaries to ensure that development works went on uninterruptedly.

Krishna Rao said the officials could divide 3,500 village secretaries in the State among the new panchayats as per requirement based on population. He also directed them to appoint one secretary for four to five villages, each comprising about 5,000 to 6,000 population.

As the term of the governing bodies is due to end by July end, the Collectors should be ready with reports in five days to continue the development works and growth process even if the period of the governing bodies are extended or special officers are appointed. Haritha Haram program should be taken up this year also in a grand manner and set up nurseries in every village for its promotion, he said.

Panchayat Raj Commissioner Neethu Prasad, taking part in the meeting from Secretariat, informed that employment guarantee scheme was giving fruitful results. “So far, we have made use of Rs 9 crore worth working days as part of the programme and will use another Rs 4 crore worth working days in two to three months for Haritha Haram.

We are preparing plans for the purpose and involving the staff at all levels for the green drive,” she informed. Panchayat Raj Principal Secretary Vikas Raj and other officials were present.