Housing and infra development top priority for us, says N Chandrababu Naidu

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said housing and infrastructure development are top priority for the government. He said at the second and final day of collectors’ conference that there is a huge demand for houses in villages. Even most of the complaints to the government’s call centre are regarding housing, he said. Completing 10 lakh houses in the next two years is the target and district administrations have to focus on meeting the targets.

Mr Naidu pressed on rural infrastructure development and asked officials to give top priority to roads and drinking water problems. Panchayat Raj minister Nara Lokesh explained how the department utilising the technology to resolve water issues in the villages. He also explained that cement roads are being laid within the villages and Kadapa district would become the first district in the state with 100 per cent cement roads.

Mr Lokesh also said the tax structure in villages is being reformed and plans are afoot to waive the tax for poor in villages. He said a pilot project implemented in West Godavari district has been successful and very soon it will be implemented across the state. Pressing on accountability and transparency, the chief minister said all departments should have biometric attendance systems in place. ‘I, myself, and the chief secretary use the biometric system every day to register attendance,’ said Mr Naidu.

Speaking on health care in the system, he told the collectors to recruit doctors on outsourcing basis. He asked the collectors to visit government hospitals at least once in a month. The pilot project taken up in East Godavari to grow organic vegetables in panchayats for pregnant woman should be extended to all districts, he said. The chief minister asked the officials to develop software for better maintenance of Anganwadi centres. He said Anganwadi workers will be given smartphones.

The CM stressed upon the collectors that all welfare schemes should be result oriented. He told the officials to fix accountability on college managements on fee reimbursement. Minister K. Acchennaidu said though the government is spending Rs 2,300cr on the scheme, there is no publicity at all. He said parents should also be involved instead of giving fee reimbursement directly to the colleges.