Pawan Kalyan: YSRC govt diverted 5K crore sand in East Godavari district

Kakinada: Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday disclosed that ₹5,000 crore worth sand had been mined from 2021 to 2024 in just East Godavari district. Though the then government should have paid ₹200 crore as seigniorage to local bodies in the area, no funds had been released, he said, reviewing the working of panchayat raj, forest, environment, science and technology and rural water schemes at the collector’s office.

Briefing the media later, Pawan Kalyan assured that the NDA alliance government will strengthen the local bodies and provide people good governance. He said more than 40 villages in the district are suffering from lack of drinking water. He assured that the drinking water problem will be solved using the Jal Jeevan Mission funds.

The Deputy CM said Kakinada district collector S. Shan Mohan will be submitting a report on multiple fundraising concepts for strengthening the panchayats and increasing their revenue.

In this regard, he said eco-tourism projects will be developed on Hope Island. He pointed out that there are endangered species in Korina Wildlife Sanctuary, which will be protected. He stressed on the need to extend forest cover to counter climate change.

Pawan Kalyan expressed worry over the erosion of sea at Uppada coast. He said experts will be visiting Uppada on Wednesday to explore measures to be taken for curbing sea erosion. Quoting officials, he said the sea is surging 20 feet every year. It has inundated nearly one acre of land on the Uppada coast in recent years.

He maintained that it is not possible to bring in development overnight, as the state government has no “Allauddin Adbhuta Deepam.” He said the government is working towards finding solutions to all problems.

“AP will become a role model in the country in development and ease of doing business,” he declared.

MLAs Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao, Pantham Venkateswara Rao, Jyothula Nehru and district forest officer Bharani were among those present.

Ends/RS