Date:26/12/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/12/26/stories/2003122603730400.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Ordinance to replace DDRCs with planning panels soon

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Dec.25. The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has announced that an ordinance would be promulgated shortly to replace the District Development Review Committees (DDRCs) with District Planning Committees (DPCs) as part of devolution of powers and in accordance with the 74th Constitutional amendment

Speaking to reporters after presenting "progress reports" relating to rural and urban local bodies, municipalities, drinking water and Janmabhoomi, Mr. Naidu said that a senior officer would be appointed to head the committees. This was aimed at toning up the administration and also bring in greater accountability.

Earlier the Chief Minister declared his Government's intention to strengthen local bodies by devolving more powers while at the same time making them more accountable to the people. Giving an overview of the measures taken by the TDP Government during the last 100 months for strengthening panchayats, municipalities and other urban bodies, he said that as a result of those initiatives, the percentage of poverty in the State has come down to 15.77 per cent as against all India average of 26.01 per cent. Similarly, rural poverty has also come down to 11.05 per cent as against all India average of 27.09 per cent.

Giving a comparative account, he said that the amount spent for rural development between 1990-95 was Rs. 739 crores as against Rs. 3122 crores expended during the last eight years. He said that an amount of Rs. 185.24 crores was released for gram panchayats as per the devolutions under 11th finance commission in 2003-04.

He said that the amount spent for development of rural roads was Rs. 2,463 crores during the last five years as against Rs. 251 crores between 1984-94. It has been programmed to spend another Rs. 1,833 crores for developing another 17,770-long km roads the next three years.

The various reforms initiated by the Government had led to an increase in the revenues of local bodies and reduced establishment costs.