Fruit orchards to be cultivated in 6,000 acres in FY 26
In line with this, Kurnool district has set a target to cultivate fruit orchards in 6,000 acres during the 2025-26 financial year. On Tuesday, Kurnool District Collector P Ranjith Basha, along with Kodumur MLA Boggula Dastagiri and TDP district president P Tikka Reddy formally launched the plantation drive by planting saplings in the field of a farmer named Khaseem at Rudravaram village in Kurnool mandal. Speaking on the occasion, Collector Basha stated that horticulture crops yield higher returns than traditional crops, hence the State government was encouraging farmers with landholdings between 0.25 to 5 acres to shift toward horticulture. Under MGNREGS, funds are being allocated not only for saplings but also for fertilisers, maintenance, and other cultivation expenses based on the type of fruit crops planted. The Collector further informed that the district administration has already initiated plantation works in 1,000 acres on the first day of the drive.
During the event, the Collector interacted with the local farmer Khaseem to learn about his landholding and previous cropping practices. Kodumur MLA Dastagiri urged farmers to take full advantage of the fruit plantation initiative and requested the Collector to allocate government land for a crematorium in Rudravaram.
Responding positively, the Collector directed the Kurnool RDO to initiate steps to identify suitable land immediately. Officials including Kurnool RDO Sandeep Kumar, DWMA PD Venkataramanayya, APD Padmavati, Kurnool Rural tahsildar Ramesh and MPDO Raghunath participated in the programme.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
AP eases entry into mining sector with policy overhaul
Vijayawada: In a move to attract more investments into the mines sector, the state govt has revived the first-cum-first licence policy by scrapping the auction system. The state govt found that auction system has not only prevented the new players into the sector but also helped a few people firming up their grip on the mineral licences. The first-cum-first licence system was followed in the state during the previous TDP regime. However, the YSRCP regime suspended it to bring the auction system. Although, the auction system helped rake up more revenue to the exchequer, it is believed to have pushed the mineral sector into the hands of a few select players. The influential contractors threatened the new players from filing the bids and grabbed the licences for the most attractive mineral leases. The state govt in fact released new mining policy 2025-30 recently. In line with the new policy, the industries and commerce department worked out guidelines for issuance of leases and licences for the minor minerals in the state. The tender-cum-auction system will, however, continue for major minerals. The state govt directed the mines and geology director to consider all the pending applications for grant of leases since 2014. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In IC Markets Learn More Undo The revival of the old policy is likely to help young and enthusiastic entrepreneurs to enter into the mining sector with investments and create more employment. Leases for as many as 16 minor minerals including granite, road metal, building stones, kerbs, limestone, mosaic chips, M-sand will be granted through first-cum-first basis. The leases will also be granted in private patta and forest lands after getting required clearances from the concerned authorities. "The leases/licences in govt/forest lands will be granted to those who first secured NOC from the authorities concerned. Mere filing application with the mines and geology department will not work," said a senior official of mines and geology department. — Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
First rail engine chugs off on Kanigiri railway tracks as SCR conducts maiden trial run
Vijayawada: The first rail engine chugged off on the railway tracks of the Kanigiri railway station as the South Central Railway (SCR) authorities conducted a maiden trial run using a diesel rail engine in Kanigiri, which is part of the Nadikudi-Srikalahasti railway line. On Sunday, the railway authorities conducted the trial run from Nadikudi to Kanigiri railway station. Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, along with Kanigiri MLA Ugra Narasimha Reddy and the railway authorities, inspected the trial run. The Nadikudi-Srikalahasti railway line has been a long-pending demand for the people of the Darsi, Podili, and Kanigiri constituencies. Ever since the TDP-led NDA govt came to power, the govt cleared the land acquisition hurdles and expedited the construction works on the Nadikudi-Srikalahasti railway line. Currently, the works between the Kanigiri-Pamuru stretch are progressing at a brisk pace and are expected to be completed soon. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Indian Express
Uncertainty looms over the resumption of NREGS in Bengal as the Centre is yet to clear the labour budget
With the August 1 deadline set by the Calcutta High Court for restarting Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MG-NREGS) in West Bengal already passed, the job program's resumption remains uncertain as the Centre is yet to clear the state's labour budget for financial year 2025–26, The Indian Express has learnt. According to sources, the West Bengal government had written to the Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), seeking approval to its labour budget. However, the same has not been done so far, said a source. The labour budget refers to anticipated demand for unskilled manual work for execution of a shelf of work identified to be taken up during a financial year. The labour budget is approved by the Empowered Committee headed by the Union Rural Development Secretary. The states can generate their demands for funds using NREGASoft, the Management Information System (MIS) of the MG-NREGS, only after this committee clears their labour budget proposals. Under the NREGS, the MoRD releases funds to states 'based on agreed labour budget'. Generally, the states' labour budget proposals are approved by the MoRD by the end of January before the beginning of each financial year (April-March). In Bengal's case, no labour budget has been approved post financial year 2021-22 after the Centre suspended implementation of the scheme in the state. By invoking Section 27 of the MGNREGA, 2005, the Centre had stopped release of funds to West Bengal with effect from March 9, 2022, 'due to non-compliance of directives of Central Government'. Since then, no work under the NREGS has taken place in the state. In an order on 18th June 2025, the Calcutta High Court had directed that the 'scheme be implemented prospectively with effect from 1st August 2025'. However, the West Bengal officials say that they have not received any intimation from the Centre about resumption of the scheme in the state. They have also been urging the MoRD for approval of the labour budget but the same has not happened either, said an official. The MoRD officials have kept mum so far on the issue of Bengal. When asked whether the ministry has challenged the June 18 Calcutta High Court order, the concerned officials at the MoRD did not respond. However, sources say that the Centre has not yet challenged the order. On July 22, Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had told Lok Sabha that the order of the High Court is 'being studied in the Ministry to decide further course of action'. In January this year, West Bengal's Rural Development Minister Pradip K Mazumdar wrote a letter to Chouhan, seeking an appointment for a meeting, which has not happened so far. Earlier, multiple meetings between the Centre and West Bengal government officials have taken place but the issue has not been resolved till date. Before the Centre suspended the MG-NREGS in March 2022, West Bengal figured among the top performers with 51-80 lakh families in the state availing the scheme annually between 2014-15 and 2021-22. The data available on the NREGS portal shows that the number of households working through the rural job guarantee scheme stood at 51 lakh in 2014-15, 61 lakh in 2015-16, 58 lakh in 2016-17, 52 lakh in 2017-18, 43.89 lakh in 2018-19, 54.57 lakh in 2019-20, 79.64 lakh in 2020-21, and 75.97 lakh in 2021-22. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
