Pattana Pragathi will boost growth in urban areas

Mahbubnagar: District Collector S Venkat Rao, who took charge recently, stated that he would focus on implementing all government flagship programmes and ensure completion of major and minor irrigation projects in the district.

In an exclusive interview with The Hans India, Rao stated that his priority was to take forward all the flagship government programmes, including Palle Pragathi and Pattana Pragathi and ensure cent per cent implementation.

Excerpts from the Interview:

Q. How do you feel being appointed as the District Collector of Mahbubnagar and what are your

priorities for the district?

It is definitely a big achievement in my career and I feel really happy to serve the people in the capacity of a Collector. However, administration is not new for me, right from the beginning of my carrier as a Tahasildar I had served in various departments in different districts in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. Coming to Mahbubnagar, I served as a Joint Collector for about two years and later I was transferred to Narayanpet district as its Collector, which was a big turning point in my career.

Coming to priorities, I want to see cent per cent implement of government flagship programmes. We have been given strict instructions from Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to see to it that fruits of development reach every beneficiary.

Q: What are the major flagship programme you would be focusing at present in Mahbubnagar?

Currently, we are focusing on the implementation of Pattana Pragathi. At a recent meeting with the CM, we have been instructed to bring a comprehensive change in all major towns and municipalities in the district with regard to improving sanitation, providing facilities and increasing the green cover.

Q: What are your plans to implement Pattana Pragathi programme and from when are you launching programme?

We are devising an action for Pattana Pragathi on the lines of Palle Pragathi that has already been implemented. For this, we have already started discussions and holding meetings with the district authorities, ward councillors, municipal chairpersons and officials in the municipalities. The Pattana Pragathi will not any different from that of the Palle Pragathi, however, as the requirements of people in urban areas are slightly different from that of villages, we will devise an action plan to serve them accordingly. We will initially conduct awareness programmes and hold meetings with the people of every ward to know their requirements and take steps to address them. The programme will begin today.

Q: According to you, in what way the new Municipal and Panchayat Raj Acts would help in taking forward the development programmes in the district?

The newly-amended Panchayat Raj and Municipal Acts have incorporated many new things. These Acts have strengthened the Collector institutions. Earlier, we used to take a lot of time in checking various Acts and government orders to implement a decision. But with the new Acts, all these hindrances are removed and Collectors are now empowered to take speedier decisions and ensure implementation of all government schemes in a systematic manner giving no scope for confusion and ambiguity.

Q:  How much fund has been sanctioned for the district for the implementation of Palle Pragathi and Pattana Pragathi ?

The State government has been very liberal in releasing funds for the gram panchayats and urbal local bodies for the implementation of Palle Pragathi and Pattana Pragathi. For Palle Pragathi, it released Rs 60 crore and for Pattana Pragathi, it released Rs 7 crore so far.

Q: What change have you witnessed

during Palle Pragathi ?

The Palle Pragathi programme brought a massive change in the mindset of people. Earlier, people used throw the garbage in open spaces and litter the roads. This has been completely changed since the implementation of Palle Pragathi. The government alloted tractors to all 441 gram panchayats and of them 405 panchayats were already handed over the tractors and remaining villages would get the tractors in next couple of days.

As far as Pattana Pragathi implementation is concerned, we have set up four committees in each municipality that also include women committees, youth committees, prominent members committees and public representatives. The main objective of these committees is to identify the problems and help in devising an action plan for taking up the works. Under Pattana Pragathi, we have decided to focus on sanitation, Haritha Haram and resolving the power issues. In addition to these, we are planning to establish new markets, parks and develop lung spaces for the people living in the cities. Provide safe drinking water and development of underground drainage system are also under our radar.

Q: How is the support from local public representatives ?

The support from public representatives is immense. For instance, with the support of Excise Minister Srinivas Goud, fortunately Mahabubnagar district is getting additional funds for the construction of roads, drainages, parks and development of temples, beautification of roads and junctions, lighting system etc. The IT Park is one of the biggest achievements. We are almost completing the land acquisition process for this and very soon making it ready for setting up of new IT companies. Once one or two IT companies have set up their bases, the pace of Mahbubnagar's growth will accelerate. The establishment of a government medical college and already having a private medical college in the district have drastically improved the healthcare sector in the district. The Pharma Special Economic Zone and the speedier pace of Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation project and completion of other pending projects have also improved the scope of employment for youth and the farming community.