Zero tolerance to corruption, asserts CM Chandrababu Naidu
He underscored the need to identify areas where corruption is taking place, conduct inquiries, and take immediate action if allegations are proved.
Holding a meeting with the officials at his camp office in Undavalli on Saturday, the Chief Minister reviewed the feedback received from the public over the past year regarding welfare schemes and development programmes. The officials informed him that the IVRS and CSDS surveys indicated high level of satisfaction among the people with the quality performance of the coalition government.
He instructed that a technical audit be conducted on the survey process, and steps be taken to improve satisfaction in areas with low feedback. He underlined the need for prioritising 10 major public issues such as welfare, employment generation and road infra.
He sought the details of how many people secured jobs through initiatives like work-from-home, investment inflow, and skill development. Besides directing the officials to hold job melas in all 175 Assembly segments, he said all government services should be made available via WhatsApp Governance through the 'Mana Mitra' platform by August 15.
Get feedback on supply of sand: Naidu
He also suggested exploring better delivery mechanisms to ensure ration supplies reach disabled and elderly citizens at their doorstep. On fair price shops, he stressed the need for gathering beneficiary opinions on alternatives such as increasing the number of shops, providing cash in lieu of ration, or issuing coupons.
Regarding the free sand policy, Naidu directed the officials to conduct area-wise studies to assess dissatisfaction with sand availability, and satisfaction in regions without sand.
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Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 4 (ANI): Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Friday announced that the government is working on a plan towards the expansion of airports and helipads in hilly areas of the country. Naidu stated that under the Regional Connectivity Scheme, several airports from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh are being built. 'We already have a plan for the expansion of heliports in hilly states. Under our Regional Connectivity Scheme, several airports from J&K to Arunachal Pradesh are being built', Ram Mohan Naidu told reporters in Dehradun. The Union Minister stated that there are 18 heliports in Uttarakhand, and as far as safety is concerned, the weather conditions and geographical terrains pose difficulties in the operations of helicopters. Ram Mohan Naidu stressed that India is currently studying 'world-class' standards and informed about suggestions regarding increasing Air Traffic Control (ATC) in Uttarakhand. '18 heliports are also here. As far as safety is concerned, weather conditions and geographical terrain pose difficulties in helicopter operations. So, in this connection, we are studying world-class standards. We have received 2-3 suggestions that there should be more ATC systems. Setting up ATC is also a challenge due to the geographical terrain. So, we are also trying to have even more impact of ATC in the Char Dham network', the Union Minister said. The Union Minister stated that the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority and the Ministry of Civil Aviation are holding discussions to improve operations in Uttarakhand and the safety of the devotees coming for the Char Dham Yatra 'So, we have started the efforts. Changes, if any, regarding the arrangement for pilots or the frequency of helicopter operations have to be made. Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority and the Ministry of Civil Aviation are holding detailed discussions to make operations better here. When it begins again in September, decisions will have been made by then to have accurate and better operations here. It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of devotees coming for the Char Dham Yatra. There is no compromise in safety', Ram Mohan Naidu told reporters. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday participated in the Northern Region Ministers Conference on Civil Aviation in Dehradun. Following the event, CM Dhami asserted that his government will discuss increasing the air connectivity in the northern part of India. He expressed happiness over Uttarakhand being chosen as the host of the conference and mentioned that it shows the Union Government's interest towards increasing air services in the state. 'We will discuss how to expand air services in the northern regions of the country, how to increase facilities, and how to expand airports... Uttarakhand being chosen as the host for the conference shows that in a border area like ours, the central government is making serious efforts to increase air services', CM Dhami said while addressing the reporters in Dehradun.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
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Why are Andhra Pradesh and Telangana fighting over Banakacherla project?
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In response, the Telangana government has accused Andhra of violating the inter-state river water sharing agreement agreed to in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. Here's a look at the project and row between the states: What is the Banakarchela project? Post-bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh has strived to utilise the 'surplus' Godavari waters to provide relief to a drought-prone Rayalseema region. As per Mr. Naidu's vision, by interlinking the Godavari-Krishna basins, the 2000 tmc. ft. Godavari river water flowing into the Bay of Bengal can be diverted from the Polavaram Dam towards the Banakacherla region in Rayalseema. To link Godavari and Krishna, Andhra plans on diverting Godavari flood waters to Prakasam Barrage on Krishna river at Vijayawada and then pump it to the Bollapalli reservoir via canals, and irrigation lifts. From there, tunnels passing under Nallamala forests will transfer water to Banakacherla reservoir, benefitting Kadapa and Kurnool regions. With an estimated cost of ₹80,112 crore, Banakacherla project requires the acquisition of 40,500 acres including forest land. Annually, 3000 tmc of Godavari floodwaters run into the Bay of Bengal during the 100-odd days of monsoon. Andhra wishes to divert 200 tmc of this run-off towards Krishna basin by enhancing Polavaram Right Main Canal's capacity to 38,000 cusecs, Thatipudi Lift Irrigation Scheme's canal to 10,000 cusecs and construct a reservoir at Bollapalli with a storage capacity of 150 tmc ft. Powered by six lift stations at Harischandrapuram, Lingapuram, Vyyandana, Gangireddypalem, and Nakirekallu, with a total power demand over 4000 MW, water will be transfered to Banakacherla dam via tunnels under Nallamala forest. Andhra sees this as the most viable solution to Rayalseema's drought woes. Andhra's argument In 2013, the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal, divided the available 2130 tmc ft of Krishna waters among undivided Andhra (1005 tmc), Karnataka (907 tmc) and Maharashtra (666 tmc). Since the award, both Telugu states have been crying foul as the Tribunal has robbed them of its freedom to use surplus water in its natural catchment. The Tribunal, in its calculations, has equally divided the surplus water of 285 tmc between undivided Andhra and the other two states. Post-bifurcation, Mr. Naidu and then-Telangana CM K Chandrashekhara Rao struck deal allowing Telangana to utilise 299 tmc ft and Andhra 512 tmc ft of the 811 tmc ft of Krishna river waters, awarded to unified Andhra Pradesh by the Bachawat Tribunal in 1976. Similarly, the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal (GWDT) ordered Andhra Pradesh to divert 80 tmc ft of Godavari waters from Polavaram to Krishna river to be shared upstream with Karnataka and Maharashtra. Without any mention of surplus waters, the tribunal allotted 1486 tmc ft to undivided Andhra. Hence, the Andhra Pradesh government claims that with the Polavaram-Banakacherla link, the State was only using 'unused surplus waters' flowing into Andhra Pradesh after the needs of the upper riparian States are met. Affirming that both Polavaram project and Banakacherla were in compliance with the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, Andhra has requested to maintain status quo on the allocations of the Krishna river water made by the Tribunal. Mr. Naidu has also asked Telangana to discuss with the Centre about the legal sanctity to utilise flood waters flowing into the sea. Telangana's argument On the other hand, Telangana has claimed that the project violates the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 as the upper riparian state was allotted 968 tmc ft of Godavari waters while Andhra was given 500 tmc ft by GWDT. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy claims that as the Tribunal did not mention allocation of 'surplus waters', Banakacherla was a threat to the state's water security. Telangana's irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy accuses Andhra and the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) of hiding the project details. He claims that Andhra was proceeding with the project without getting any clearances from the statutory agencies or doing a thorough impact study. What do experts say? 'Increasing the Polavaram canal capacity will significantly alter the natural west-to-east flow regime. This could reduce freshwater inflows to downstream deltas, leading to increased salinity intrusion, loss of sediment and nutrients, disruption of aquatic ecosystems, and harm to agriculture and fisheries in the Godavari and Krishna deltas,' explains Shrinivas Badiger, a Fellow at Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment. 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4 hours ago
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Polavaram-Banakacherla project within legal limits, benefits both states: CM Naidu
TIRUPATI: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday dismissed allegations surrounding Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project, stating that it causes no harm to any region or state. Responding to criticism of the project, CM Naidu, while addressing the media in Kuppam, Chittoor district, clarified that the project is being executed within legal and technical frameworks. He emphasized that both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh can mutually benefit from the optimal use of Godavari river waters. 'I have never opposed, nor will I oppose, any irrigation project taken up by Telangana on the Godavari river,' Naidu said, recalling his role in initiating the Devadula Project for Telangana during the united Andhra Pradesh era. He also pointed to his contributions in bringing the Pushkara and Tadipudi lift irrigation projects to Andhra. Criticising the unfulfilled Yellampalli project initiated during the YSR regime, Naidu highlighted how over 2,000 TMC of Godavari water has been flowing into the sea annually for the past several years. 'Even utilising 200 TMC would be a game-changer for both states,' he asserted. The CM stressed that water-sharing cooperation could uplift the entire Telugu community and urged all stakeholders to act responsibly. 'Our mission is to reduce income disparities and raise living standards' Naidu came down heavily on those criticizing the government's P4 initiative, asserting that people who haven't spent 'even a single rupee for the poor' are now launching unwarranted attacks against a progressive welfare programme. Naidu defended the government's poverty alleviation efforts and called for a united societal approach to development. 'While our government is advancing with meaningful actions to reduce poverty, some individuals are busy making baseless allegations. Those who looted public resources without spending a single paisa on the poor are now questioning our intentions,' Naidu said.
