Chief
Minister with Collectors
In a free
and frank meet
Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
In a marathon five hour meeting with District Collectors and
Superintendents of Police held at DR MCR HRD Institute on October 13, 2015
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao reviewed the progress of prestigious
government programs, schemes and current issues that include Housing for Poor, Land
Procurement for Irrigation Projects, Drinking Water, Land Purchase for Dalits,
GOs 58 &59, Grama Jyoti, Mission Kakatiya, Telangana ku Haritaharam,
Drought, Krishna Pushkaras etc. Opening the discussion Chief Minister said that
the meeting has been convened basically to elicit information on issues and
hurdles in implementation of various programs in a free and frank atmosphere.
He said number of schemes have been initiated in the state over the last 16
months and all over the country in the remaining 28 states many are looking at
Telangana the way they are in progress.
Priority item for discussion was housing for poor. CM cited the examples
of Erravalli village which he adopted and IDH colony in the Hyderabad city
where the first housing initiative was taken up. Designs of the houses to be
built in Erravalli are shown to the Collectors and SPs. Erravalli villagers
after a brainstorming discussion and laborious exercise agreed to demolish
their old and dilapidated houses and go for new ones in their place. Two more
villages China Mulkanoor in Karimnagar District and Narasannapet in Medak
District which are also adopted by CM also are going for a similar exercise.
The designs of the proposed houses impressed all the Collectors and readily
agreed to replicate in their districts with minor changes suiting to the local
needs. These houses would be of uniform design and will be either in 200 Square
yards or 250 Yards with amenities like gobar gas connections, shopping malls,
community hall etc.
For constructing new houses the site not necessarily to be located at
a far away place away from village. The idea of a double bedroom house for poor
is a well thought out program and has its roots and origin during drafting of
TRS manifesto. It would be a one+one model to enable joint families or close
relatives to live together said CM. He is very firm in saying that under any
circumstances there shall not be any mistake either in the process of
beneficiary selection or in construction. In other words there shall be no
scope for misappropriation of funds and the Collectors are responsible to
ensure that there is no scope for corruption. The CM said that if any official
indulges in corruption or malpractice the Government will take stern action
against the person responsible for it. He said that all should work carefully
in a transparent manner and only eligible persons are benefited.
CM also mentioned that layouts and alignments for construction of the
houses should not disturb the village life and the existing tress. Four-Five
architects will be empanelled by Government for helping Collectors in designing
houses in villages. A typical design of a two bedroom house in the village
shall have the facility of bath and lavatory not inside but outside as if it is
almost inside. This would also enable in obtaining Government of India funding
under construction of toilets scheme. Basically the houses would be on the
pattern of IDH Colony in Hyderabad in an area of 560 SFT including common area.
There will be two lofts for storage. In all, in the first phase during this
year Government would construct 60, 000 houses which includes 36, 000 in rural
areas and 24, 000 in urban areas. In each of the Assembly segment 400 houses
would be built. Beneficiaries for 50% of the proposed houses in each
constituency will be as per the recommendation of Minister concerned and
remaining by MLA.
As far as possible the houses would come-up as colonies or clusters of
houses said CM and that too to the extent possible to be at a place adjacent to
main road. This would have an impact and a message about the scheme would go to
others. The cost of construction is estimated at Rs. 5.04 Lakhs per unit in
rural areas and Rs. 5.30 Lakhs in urban areas. Collectors have been asked to
give permits for transporting sand from the nearby rivers but ensuring that
there is no misuse in the process. Required civic infrastructure for each
colony like water supply, electricity, approach and internal roads as well as
drains and sewerage shall be provided.
CM also desired that no part of the work should be stopped on the
pretext of rules and regulations. The Collectors have been empowered to take
decisions for effective and speedy completion of scheme which is basically a
poor people scheme. The overall implementation of the scheme will be done by
Collectors in the districts and commissioner GHMC in Hyderabad. CM also
directed collectors to gather details of people who got pattas from Government
and also those who are in need of houses. The rule that land should not be
acquired within 5 KM radius in mandal headquarters and other towns would be
relaxed paving way for acquisition of land in that radius for the housing
scheme. In addition any Government land if it is useful for housing would also
be made use of.
(Post Script: The Scheme has been formally launched on Vijay Dasami
day, the 22nd October 2015. CM launched in Suryapet in Nalgonda
District and Erravalli village in Medak District and other ministers in their
concerned districts on a large scale).
Completion of irrigation projects-both medium and major-is one of the
top priorities of the Government. The land procurement progress has been
reviewed by the Chief Minister and he asked the Collectors to take initiative
to procure lands for construction of irrigation projects. CM repeatedly
emphasized that it is “land procurement” and not “land acquisition”. Collector
Mahaboobnagar explained the process adopted for land procurement for
Palamoor-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme. Collector Nalgonda explained how he
did it for the purpose of two reservoirs and for a bund. CM suggested that
other Collectors should follow the same methodology and with the same spirit so
that in a very short period projects could be completed. He pointed out that
the main reason for delay in execution of projects is mainly due to land
acquisition and hence his Government preferred land procurement by paying
market value. He recalled the olden days of land acquisition policy which
dragged on years together in litigations. CM assured to release required funds
for procurement for speedy process. Officials are advised to provide one-time
compensation by analysing land value, house and cattle etc. For those whose
lands are procured, the double bed room cost of Rs. 5. 04 lakhs would be paid.
CM also said that it was the hope of the Telangana people that once
the state is formed justice would be done with regards to utilization of water,
provision of funds and opportunities for employment and accordingly the
Government has taken up irrigation projects. The entire exercise would enable
expeditious completion of irrigation projects.
Chief Minister reviewed the progress of Telangana Drinking Water
Supply Project also known as “The Water Grid” and wanted that the Collectors to
continuously supervise all the works pertaining to the scheme. CM expressed his
satisfaction over the progress of construction of intake wells. CM wanted that
to ensure laying of pipelines Collectors should invoke Right of Way Act as it
has come to his notice that few people are not allowing the pipelines to pass
through their lands with an intention to delay the works which is against law.
Stating that since the pipelines would be laid below 1.6 meters from the
surface Collectors should be strict on this aspect and the Superintendents of
Police to help in this regard wherever required. Referring to the requirement
of about 370 hectares of forest land for construction of structures and laying
pipeline, which are generally in small pieces of 5 hectares, CM instructed
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to accord permission on the basis of
compensatory afforestation without referring to Chennai as it does not require
it to go there. As the pipelines of all categories measuring about 1, 27, 000
KM and likely to go up to 1, 70, 000KM would be crossing National Highways, R
& B Road Crossings, Panchayat Raj Roads, Railway Crossings and Canal
Crossings at nearly 13, 530 places, CM asked the officials to discuss with
concerned officials to overcome problems if any. Since 70% of the project work
comprises of pipelines it needs to be expedited said CM.
CM also reviewed Land Purchase Scheme for Dalits and has been told by
officers that so far 3772 acres of land was purchased under the scheme and out
of these 3206 acres has been registered to beneficiaries. CM said that only
land which is under cultivation and cultivable should be purchased and that too
with the consent of prospective beneficiary. Collectors are to be responsible
for purchase. There shall not be a restriction that the beneficiary shall not
be in possession of total 3 acres of land but even those who possess less than
three acres are to be considered. Collectors and Ministers should use their
wisdom in this aspect said CM. He said whatever the extent of land available
efforts are to be made to buy and allot to Dalits. In other words CM wanted
that Collectors have to provide 3 acres of land for people who do not own any
land and for people with some land remaining part of land. CM also said that
Government will implement similar scheme to benefit Scheduled Tribes also.
Chief Minister directed the Collectors to speed-up the distribution of pattas
to the beneficiaries who applied for regularization Government lands vide GO 58
and GO 59.
Reviewing the Grama Jyothy programme progress which he described as a
lasting programme, CM said that, in many villages basic infrastructure is
either absent or inadequate. That is why many have adopted one village each for
development under Grama Jyothy. CM asked the Collectors to ensure provision of
basic amenities and also ensure that every village have crematorium, burial
ground and dumping yard. CM said that Government is all set to provide 25, 000
Tricycles to collect and carry garbage from households to dump yards. Ministers
have been asked to conduct periodical reviews and monitor constantly said CM.
CM has been informed that under Mission Kakatiya so far in phase-I
8200 tanks have been taken-up for grounding and out of them 1700 were totally
competed. Keeping in view the rains in some districts and the water levels,
works will go on wherever possible. CM said taking advantage of drought in some
areas works should be continued. He also said that correct estimates of Ayucut
under each tank have to be made.
Reviewing Telangana ku Haritaharam CM said that Department of Forest needs
rejuvenation first. He said that most of the forest lands are in encroachments and
they have to be renewed first. Officers instead of confining to Aranyabhavan should
move to forest areas and initiate steps for cent percent protection of forest lands.
CM said that social forestry has to be increased. Protection has to be provided
to the plants under Harita Haram. CM instructed PCCF to call for a meeting of all
conservators and chalk out a programme on future course of action. CM also said
that Fire Engines are to be stepped into action to protect plants. CM asked Collector
Mahaboobnagar District to prepare a project report for relocation of non-Chenchus
of Nallamala Forest to obtain funds under Tiger Reserve Project.
CM said
in conclusion that the State Government would take-up special programs to bailout
the farmers in the drought-hit mandals. CM asked officials to prepare a list of
drought-hit mandals as per the existing central Government norms.
CM wanted both Medaram Sammakka-Sarakka
Jatara and forthcoming Krishna Pushkaras are to be organized the way Godavari Pushkaras
were organized. End
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