Pawan Says Centre Backing Godavari Clean-Up Ahead of Pushkaralu
Chouhan expressed interest in replicating the Magic Drains model in his own constituency.
Vijayawada:Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday disclosed that the centre has extended positive support to a series of proposals aimed at rural development, environmental conservation, and the successful conduct of forthcoming Godavari Pushkaralu.
The Deputy CM, who holds the portfolios of Panchayat Raj, Rural Development, Forest, and Environment, met on the day union ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Rural Development), Bhupender Yadav (Environment), and C. R. Patil (Jal Shakti) in New Delhi. He sought their ministries’ assistance for key projects, including the Mission Clean Godavari, model Pushkar panchayats, and rural infrastructure development.
Pawan Kalyan announced that the centre has agreed to support pollution-control measures in the Godavari River basin, with the Central Pollution Control Board expected to conduct a study and recommend remedial measures ahead of the pushkaralu in 2017. He urged the union government to launch a “Clean Godavari” programme on the lines of the Namami Gange project to preserve the river’s ecological and cultural significance.
Further, the Deputy Chief Minister announced that Andhra Pradesh would host the national launch of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) {VB-G RAM G} programme on July 1. He thanked the centre for allocating substantial funds to the state. He underlined that 260 model panchayats involved in Godavari Pushkaralu would receive focused development support.
Pawan Kalyan said the union Rural Development minister has praised Andhra Pradesh’s transparent social audit system, innovative “Magic Drains” initiative, and the water trough construction programme for livestock. Chouhan expressed interest in replicating the Magic Drains model in his own constituency.
The Deputy CM further said the centre had responded favourably to proposals for increasing base camps in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, securing 50 Indian gaurs from Madhya Pradesh, bringing female tigers from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, and obtaining trained kumki elephants from Odisha to address human-wildlife conflict.
