State Undertakes ₹4,200 Cr UGD Works, ₹10,200 Cr Pipeline Projects
Narayana said orders had been issued to complete infrastructure works within a year, with priority to roads, canals, street lights, drinking water & drainage systems in 123 municipalities
VISAKHAPATNAM: Urban and municipal administration minister P. Narayana said the government, with support from the Centre, was undertaking large-scale infrastructure works to meet the basic needs of people across Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking at a review meeting at the VMRDA conference hall here on Saturday, Narayana said underground drainage (UGD) works worth `4,200 crore were being undertaken under the Urban Challenge Fund, while pipeline projects worth `10,200 crore were being implemented through the Amrut scheme and other initiatives to provide safe drinking water to every household.
He said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had sanctioned `5,500 crore for construction and repair of roads in all municipalities. Road works would begin after completion of the UGD and pipeline projects, he said.
Narayana said orders had been issued to complete infrastructure works within a year, with priority to roads, canals, street lights, drinking water and drainage systems in 123 municipalities.
He alleged that municipal taxes had been diverted for other purposes in the past and criticised the imposition of a garbage tax. He said 153 tonnes of waste had accumulated across the state, of which 140 tonnes had since been cleared.
He recalled that 10 plants had been set up during the TD government in 2014 to generate electricity from garbage, but most were later removed. The Visakhapatnam plant required further development to meet current needs, he said.
Under the VMRDA, `269 crore had been allocated for UGD and drainage works in Narsipatnam, Nellimarla, Elamanchili and Vizianagaram municipalities. Vizianagaram would receive `194 crore, while Elamanchili and Nellimarla would each receive `24 crore and Narsipatnam Rs 27 crore.
MLAs Sundarapu Vijaykumar and Lokam Naga Madavi welcomed the allocations and sought an additional `139 crore for road construction.