Panchayat Raj dept., NABARD get stick from Naidu

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, NOV. 28. The Panchayat Raj Department and the National Agricultural Bank for Rural Development (NABARD) were sharply rapped by the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, for poor funding of Neeru-Meeru, the water conservation programme of the Government.

It turned out during a review of Neeru-Meeru at the District Collectors' conference that a sum of only Rs. 20 crores had been released against the annual budget of Rs. 100 crores. The Collectors of Srikakulam and Krishna complained about the tardy sanction of funds.

An infuriated Mr. Naidu observed that the Panchayat Raj Department seemed to be sleeping and added that Collectors would be reluctant to implement the programme because of the department's inefficiency. He offered to intervene by talking to NABARD officials.

However, a department official explained that matters had been sorted out with NABARD which was insisting upon submission of four different sets of documents before releasing funds. He assured Mr. Naidu that the matter would positively be resolved by December 15.

The Minister for Panchayat Raj, Mr. P. Srinivas Reddy, clarified that a sum of Rs. 32 crores had been spent on the Neeru-Meeru programme and works valued at Rs. 55 crores completed. He supported the official by stating that NABARD was going on asking for various certificates. At this, Mr. Naidu commented that NABARD was giving an interest-bearing loan and not assistance to the State Government.

The Chief Secretary, Mr. P. V. Rao, said he had taken up the issue with the NABARD General Manager who said the bank was not insisting upon any additional information other than what it had sought in the original application form.

The only silver lining for the PR department was the Neeru-Meeru programme, launched in May 2000, had led to an additional groundwater charge of 77 tmcft, constituting a good ten per cent of the normal recharge of 773 tmcft due to rainfall. It had led to a perceptible improvement on borewells in dry areas.

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Section  : Southern States
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