Rural road construction, drinking water projects top progress report of A.P. Deputy CM

A total of 1,312 km bituminous roads was laid by the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department (PR&RDD) across 449 roads in the past one year, and a sum of nearly ₹650 crore was spent for the department's engineering works, said Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, who also handles the portfolios of PR&RD Rural Water Supply (RWS); Environment and Forest; and Science and Technology, in his progress report released on June 19 on the occasion of his completing a year in the post.
The PR&RDD received ₹590 crore from the Centre during the year. A sum of ₹605.34 crore was being spent on laying 215 roads (measuring nearly 662 km) connecting 258 tribal villages under the PM JanMAN and Panchayat Raj Reforms-Tribal Sub-Plan. These works are in progress and are targeted to be completed in two years. About ₹558 crore was released by NABARD for repairing 1,202 km of pothole-riddled roads.
The construction of 4,000 km cement concrete roads has been completed in the rural areas through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The government, through the MGNREGS, had 78,776 agricultural ponds constructed to meet the water requirement of farmers. Another major initiative taken up under the MGNREGS was the construction of 22,500 Gokulams to protect dairy cattle in villages. One of its objectives was to increase milk production, thereby increasing the income of the farmers. About 3,429 lakh working days were provided to workers through MGNREGS.
As for RWS, Mr. Kalyan said foundations were laid for clean drinking water projects in East Godavari, West Godavari, Palnadu, Prakasam and Chittoor districts at ₹7,910 crore, and so far 3,778 projects were completed under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Drinking water tap was provided to 54,352 houses.
The protected water scheme in Uddhanam area of Srikakulam district, where Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology has so far killed a large number of people, was completed. A sum of ₹480 crore was spent on providing drinking water in Pulivendula area of Kadapa district alone, he said.

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