Date:18/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/18/stories/2007091855870600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Bad condition of roads and health raises concerns

Staff Reporter

Administration advised to improve the situation

PHOTO: R.Biksham Ruther

Road travails: Julakanti Ranga Reddy, CPI (M) MLA, exhibiting pictures to indicate the worst state of roads in his constituency at DRC meet in Nalgonda on Monday

NALGONDA: The District Review Committee meeting on Monday expressed grave concern over the lack of medical facilities at Primary Health Centres and bad condition of roads in the district.

Cutting across the party lines, almost all MLAs and MLCs advised the administration to take steps to improve the situation given the surge in viral fevers in this rainy season.

While the Nakrekal MLA Nomula Narasimhaiah of the CPI (M) alleged that the PHCs were running short of anti-rabis vaccine, the CPI MLC Palla Venkat Reddy alleged that no doctor was available at Marrigudem hospital.

The Congress MLC Palvai Govardhan Reddy came down on the officials “for bringing bad repute” for the Government.

Another CPI (M) MLA Julakanti Ranga Reddy said that situation in Krishnapatte area was alarming as scores of persons were down with viral fevers forcing the in-charge Minister D.Rajanarasimha to ask the DM & HOD. Champa Naik to spell out the strategy to tackle the situation.

Expressing displeasure over lack of permanent medical officers in four PHCs of his constituency, the Sports Minister R. Damodar Reddy asked the Collector M. Purushottam Reddy to review the situation and take effective steps.

Mr.Naik and Mr.Purushottam Reddy told the meeting that 31 vacancies couldn’t be filled as doctors were not willing to work in rural areas.

Then Mr.Govardhan Reddy asked the officials to study the feasibility of engaging private doctors for 3-4 hours in PHCs that lack permanent doctors.

The Miryalaguda MLA created a flutter by bringing a huge poster pasted with colour pictures to indicate the pathetic condition of roads in his constituency.

“People are using foul language against me and I’ve lost my face in my constituency as I failed to get the roads repaired. How can I face them if you continue to neglect the problem of roads,” he questioned the Minister K.Jana Reddy. In turn Mr.Jana Reddy also said that condition of roads in his constituency was also “embarrassing.”

Sharing the concern of Mr.Ranga Reddy, the in-charge Minister said that he too had seen the worst state of roads in Miryalguda constituency.

He advised the people’s representatives to convince the contractors to take up road works.

The Home Minister asked the R&B officials to fix those contractors who failed to finish the works on time.