Rs 76,000 crs spent on welfare pensions: Chandrababu Naidu

Metro India News | REPALLE

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said the TDP-led NDA government had spent Rs 76,000 crore on welfare pensions so far despite financial constraints.

On the first day of every month, the NDA alliance government disburses thousands of crores of rupees under the NTR Bharosa pension scheme to lakhs of beneficiaries across the state.

The scheme is an Andhra Pradesh government initiative providing financial assistance to the poor and vulnerable.

"We are extending welfare by overcoming financial challenges. We have spent Rs 76,000 crore on pensions (welfare) alone so far," he said, addressing a public meeting at Repalle as part of the pension disbursement program. Saying the government was treating the mandate given by the people as a responsibility, Naidu said its members were working as "servants" and had been striving to empower every household and individual over the past two years.’’ Speaking about El Nino, the CM said the state was facing drought-like conditions due to inadequate rainfall, but noted that the recent rains had been "timely".

According to the Chief Minister, there would be no water shortage in the Krishna and Godavari delta regions once the Polavaram Project was completed. The CM also promised to complete 36 irrigation projects over the next three years. Naidu promised to develop Bapatla beach as a major tourist destination, saying it would be made "better" than Goa. Criticizing the erstwhile YSRCP government, which was in power from 2019 to 2024, Naidu accused it of "destroying" the state. He alleged that the opposition party was approaching the courts against reservations for BC communities.

Chandrababu Naidu claimed that he had provided 34 per cent reservations for BCs in local body polls in 1995, but the erstwhile YSRCP government had reduced it to 24 per cent. He accused the YSRCP of filing petitions in the High Court, arguing that reservations should not exceed 50 per cent."Come what may, we will take the responsibility of standing by the BCs politically," Naidu said. He asserted that the coalition government alone had provided BCs with opportunities to emerge as leaders and advance politically.

Measures to address Vizag's water needs on war footing

Metro India News | VISAKHAPATNAM

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday directed officials to take measures on a war footing to permanently address the drinking and industrial water requirements of Visakhapatnam. He instructed officials to expedite the continuous supply of water through the drinking water supply canal from the Polavaram Left Main Canal to the Kanithi Balancing Reservoir, said an official release.

Reviewing the functioning of the Water Resources Department at his camp office, Naidu instructed officials to prepare a comprehensive water management plan to meet the state's future requirements. He directed officials to prepare a detailed roadmap covering major irrigation projects and agricultural canals besides lift irrigation schemes, micro-irrigation, hydropower projects and pumped storage projects. He directed officials to execute all projects strictly according to the timelines specified in the calendar.

Reviewing the progress of rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) and land acquisition for the Polavaram Project, the Chief Minister instructed officials to complete all project-related works by March next year. The CM also asked officials to utilise water from the Polavaram Left Canal to fill reservoirs in Anakapalli district to their maximum capacity, wherever feasible. The Chief Minister called for initiatives to educate people about the benefits of groundwater recharge and encourage public participation in water conservation.