Top politicos perform poorly on providing basic facilities to Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s Kuppam Legislative Assembly constituency was ranked 114 in availability of drinking water and 147 in latrine facilities in the state.

The constituency-wise study was conducted by the Centre for Economic and Social Studies and was commissioned and funded by Unicef and aided by the AP government.

Analysis of the data showed that constituencies held by political bigwigs including the Leader of Opposition, deputy Chief Ministers and ministers were lagging behind on water availability and sanitation.

Drinking water availability within the premises

In Mr Naidu’s constituency Santhipuram, Gudipalle and Kuppam mandals did not fare well. The constituency has been held by Mr Naidu for 25 years, since 1989.

The analysis was based on the 2011 census. AP Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Pulivendula constituency was ranked 63 and 86 in water availability and toilet facilities respectively. The Assembly constitue-ncy was held by his fath-er, the then Chief Minis-ter late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy for six terms.

AP Speaker Kodela Siv-aprasada Rao’s constituency Sattenapally was ranked at 118 and 80. Mr Rao, who had been representing Narsarao-pet for years, has been elected for the first time at Sattenapally. After getting elected he achieved the target of 100 per cent toilet facilities in his new constituency. His previous constituency Narasa-raopet ranked 69 and 52.

Commenting on the report, the Speaker said, “The analytical data in the report would help AP legislators to work with attention on the issues.”

Deputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala Chinara-jappa’s Peddapuram constituency in East Goda-vari ranked 51. The other deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy’s constituency Pattikonda in Kurnool was ranked at 144 in water availability and latrine facility.

Overall in AP, only 35.8 per cent households have drinking water available within the premises. The worst off are the households in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts.

There are around 670 revenue mandals with 1.2 crore households and 175 Assembly constituencies. Only 47.5 per cent houses in AP have toilets in the premises. Krishna and West Godavari districts are faring better than other districts.

The tourism area Araku Valley is the worst constituency ranking 175th while the Vijayawada Ea-st constituency is on the top.

The report says that availability of latrine facilities in households is higher in urban areas than in rural areas. The Visakhapatnam urban co-nstituencies were ranked from nine to 12 whereas Vijayawada urban constituencies ranked from one to three. Rajah-mundry ranked at five.

Tenali, Guntur town and Tirupati too ranked high.