Amaravati, Dachepalli to be major panchayats

Guntur,Dec. 26: Amaravati and Dachepalli panchayats would be upgraded into major panchayats soon.

According to revised guidelines issued by the government if any panchayat is having 25,000 population it would be upgraded into a major panchayat. If Amaravati and Dharanikota panchayats are merged they will have 30,000 population and will be upgraded into Amaravati major panchayat.

After the merger of Dachepalli and Nadikudi panchayats they will have 30,000 population and it would be upgraded as Dachepalli major panchayat. The district officials already sent proposals to upgrade Amaravati into a municipality in 2006. This proposal did not materialise. Now these panchayats are eligible to be upgraded into major panchayats.

The district administration is sending proposals to upgrade them into major panchayats. To get more funds from the Central government, the state government is revising the norms for upgrading the panchayats into municipalities and major panchayats. If the panchayats are upgraded they will get more funds from the Central government.

The major panchayats will get more income through tax collection also. To upgrade the panchayats into municipalities and major panchayats the government has instructed the district administration to merge the surrounding villages into the panchayats and municipalities.

The urban development ministry is having more than Rs 8,000 crore for the development of urban areas. It will get Rs 25,000 crore additionally from the World Bank very soon. The Central government would also release funds to the municipalities.

The Mangalagiri municipality and the Guntur Municipal Corporation would get the JNNURM funds to take up development works very soon. The regional director of municipal administration, Mr D. Karuna Chandrababu, said at least two to three panchayats would be upgraded as major panchayats in the district. He also said that Giddalur, Addanki and Chimakurti panchayats in Prakasam district would be upgraded into major panchayats. At present, 11 municipalities, one Municipal Corporation and one major panchayat exist in the district, which is highest number in the state.