Minister P Narayana Announces Good News for Municipalities in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh's Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Ponguru Narayana, has announced significant developments for municipalities in the state. Speaking to the media on Friday, he expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu for allocating substantial funds to the Municipal Department and the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) in the budget.
Narayana alleged that due to the inefficiency of the previous government, even the funds provided by the 15th Finance Commission were diverted, leading to setbacks in the state's development. He emphasized that municipal taxes paid by residents should legally be utilized for the development of respective municipalities and corporations under self-governance principles. He stated that funds could be used for essential services such as drainage maintenance, drinking water supply, and sanitation with council approval.
The minister criticized the previous administration for undermining self-governance by diverting funds to the Comprehensive Financial Management System (CFMS), which, he claimed, halted various municipal works. He lamented that municipalities struggled to even procure basic necessities like bleaching powder due to financial constraints. However, he announced that from April 1 this year, municipalities would have full authority to utilize the taxes they collect for local development.
Minister Narayana also addressed the delay in Amaravati's tendering process, attributing it to the enforcement of the election code. He stated that tenders would be finalized on March 10, following which construction activities would commence. The government plans to undertake Amaravati’s development in a systematic manner, aiming to complete its construction within three years, as directed by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
He reiterated that the Amaravati capital city project is designed for self-sufficiency and does not require any additional government expenditure. He assured that no tax revenues from the state's citizens would be used for this project. Instead, financial institutions like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) have sanctioned loans for its development.
Additionally, the minister revealed that road construction projects connecting Amaravati's Seed Capital to National Highway 16 would commence soon. Following this, efforts would be made to restart work on the partially completed Seed Access Road.