Utilise funds under MNREGS optimally, Naidu asks collectors

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today directed district collectors to fully utilise funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) for the construction of farm ponds that will help mitigate drought conditions.

Naidu said there is no dearth of fund under MNREGS and the government can spend Rs 500 crore in the coming three months under the scheme, according to an official press release issued here.

As a part of initiatives to build “modern Andhra”, Naidu said the government has initiated process to construct 8,75,000 farm ponds (mini water tanks in agricultural fields) each at a cost of Rs 1 lakh to meet irrigation water demand.

He was interacting with all 13 district collectors via video conferencing and asked them to create awareness among people regarding various welfare schemes of state government.

Other directives included, to monitor ground water levels by using latest technology, to settle all representations filed by citizens on various issues from the beginning of this year, the release said.

He also asked officials to ensure that pregnant women in the state undergo institutional delivery to reduce infant mortality rate.

Efforts should be made to arrest school dropout rate, construction of individual toilets, eradication of child marriage, promoting e-literacy in rural areas, it said.