Civic bodies get KTR's 20-point target, asked to provide better utilities
KARIMNAGAR: Municipal and urban development minister K. Taraka Rama Rao on Monday set a 20-point target for municipalities in the state and asked them to improve their performance by providing better utilities to citizens. The civic bodies are expected to meet the target by next year.
Speaking to the media after presiding over the maiden state-level meeting with officials and public representatives here on Monday, the minister said: “People are not expecting miracles or wonders. All they want is proper sanitation, drinking water facilities and maintenance of infrastructure such as parks and other basic amenities. We have set a 20-point target. We will achieve 75 per cent of the target at the earliest. In order to discuss progress of this target, another meeting will be held on November 2,” he observed.
The topics debated in the marathon meeting included sanitation, solid-waste management, open defecation-free, income sources, Mission Bhageeratha, door-to-door collection of garbage, transportation, dumping yards, tap connection for Rs 1, Telanganaku Haritha Haaram, ban on plastic and flex posters in the urban areas.
Mayors, deputy mayors, chairpersons, vice chairpersons, special officers and municipal commissioners belonging to 73 municipalities across the state attended the meet.
Mr Rama Rao said special focus would be laid on the transportation of garbage and keep up of sanitation. “Steps would be taken to make sure 100 per cent door-to-door collection of garbage happens. Similarly, vehicles used for transporting older than 20 years will be replaced with new ones. Their movement is going to be tracked with GPS technology. Dry resource centres and vermin-compost units will be arranged after transporting the garbage to dump yards,” he added.
Besides, he said rainwater harvesting structures would be erected in front of civic bodies and residences of mayors, corporators and officials to set an example to people. Towns will be made open defecation-free ones.
Already, 13 towns achieved this milestone. Awareness will be created among commercial establishments over keeping roads clean by conducting orientation programmes. All towns would be converted into plastic-free and litter-free zones.
