CM Naidu, Dy CM Pawan launch Rs 30,156-cr Jal Jeevan Mission works in AP
Proddatur (YSR Kadapa), Oct 5 (TNT): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan launched Rs 30,156-crore Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0–Amarajeevi Jaladhara works here on Monday aimed at providing tap water to another 27 lakh rural households across the State.
The leaders unveiled the project pylon at Kothapalli in Proddatur Assembly constituency, formally launching the programme to strengthen rural drinking water infrastructure.
The project includes construction of 13,075 overhead water tanks, expansion of water supply to 24,601 habitations and laying of a 77,243-km pipeline network.
The works will strengthen drinking water supply through 61.60 lakh tap connections and are expected to benefit around 3.3 crore people, according to the government.
speaking on the occasion, Naidu said nearly 62 lakh of the State’s around 95 lakh rural households already had tap connections and the government had set a target of providing connections to another 27 lakh households under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
He said the mission’s primary objective was to provide drinking water from sustainable sources and alleged that its implementation had suffered in the past, claiming that the previous government had utilised only around Rs 2,600 crore for the programme in the State.
The Chief Minister said the coalition government was according equal priority to drinking water and rural infrastructure.
Under Palle Panduga 3.0, works worth Rs 11,085 crore were being taken up, including roads, drains, streetlights and farm ponds, while Rs 1.30 lakh crore was proposed to be spent on rural infrastructure in the coming years, he said.
Naidu said the State had spent Rs 24,000 crore on irrigation projects during the past two years and announced that 36 irrigation projects would be taken up over the next three years at an estimated cost of Rs 35,000 crore.
He reiterated the need to link the Godavari and Cauvery rivers to address drought concerns in southern India and said utilising at least 200 TMC of Godavari floodwaters could help transform Rayalaseema.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the Rs 1 lakh crore Global Horticulture Hub aimed at transforming Rayalaseema through investments in irrigation, roads, marketing and horticulture.
He said the region had the potential to attract investments in sectors such as aerospace, defence, drones, automobiles, electronics, steel, cement, solar, wind, pumped storage, green energy and gold mining.
Naidu said the government was working to empower the poor, increase household incomes and improve quality of life, with 19 lakh houses being constructed to achieve the goal of providing a house to every eligible family by 2029.
He praised Pawan Kalyan for his contribution to improving rural road connectivity and said Gram Sabhas had been conducted simultaneously in 13,326 villages. More than Rs 4,136 crore had been received through 15th Finance Commission grants, he added.
Referring to the political opposition, Naidu made allegations relating to the Vivekananda murder case, liquor sector, Group-I examinations and sand operations and challenged the opposition to respond to them.
He appealed to people to support the coalition, saying that a government led by the alliance at the Centre, State and local bodies would constitute a “triple-engine” government.
“Rayalaseema needs peace, water, industries, good governance and employment,” Naidu said, asserting that “no conspiracy could stop Rayalaseema Rising.”
TNT KM
