Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will
launch his government's major programme 'Neeru-Chettu' (water-tree) on
Thursday, which is aimed at making the state "drought-free".
On the eve of the launch of the programme at
Tamballapalle in Chittoor district, Naidu said the initiative has to be taken
up on a campaign mode, eventually making it a people's movement. Ministers,
Districts Collectors and nodal officers would launch the programme
simultaneously tomorrow at the district and mandal level. Through
'Neeru-Chettu', the government aims to make AP a drought-free state by
encouraging plantations and through 100 per cent drip and sprinkler irrigation
in the drought-hit areas, a state government release said.
The objectives of the programme are: inventory of
existing water harvesting structures and repairs to them, construction of new
water harvesting structures using the remote-sensing or geo-tagging technology,
construction of recharge pits through roof-water collection, de-silting of
tanks and breach restoration, better water management through
improved-agricultural practices.
Under the programme, the government would focus on
planting saplings, enhancing ground-water table and utilizing available
resources through environmental protection. Noting that the programme has to
benefit the community ultimately, the Chief Minister said it should create a
relationship between people and nature and only then would it be absorbed into
the community.
Similarly, the Chief Minister pointed out that
district officials should work with irrigation, rural development, municipal
administration, forest and other related departments. They should also have
brainstorming sessions on novel ways to implement the programme, he said.
He also suggested that district officials could
consult retired engineers or experts from the field or communities to create
effective structures like check-dams, etc. "You have to think
out-of-the-box and identify low-hanging fruits," he told officials.
The Chief Minister said all the updates regarding the
works carried out will be online and geo-tagged based on the locations. Later,
satellite mapping will also be carried out. Those who have implemented best
practices and have achieved results will be awarded.
This, according to Naidu, will increase accountability
and keep people updated about work in real time.
He suggested preparing project profile of all
districts based on the works carried out from the district level to village or
ward level. "This will help us and the districts understand where we stand
and how we can take this forward and address the gaps," he said.
The Chief Minister
directed district collectors to work on the initiatives, which will ensure
there is no water scarcity in the coming summer through extensive drip and
sprinkler irrigation. He directed that
beautification of tanks and fencing or creating lung space depending on purpose
of water usage be taken up. Naidu also suggested
the irrigation department to prepare a project report to submit it to the
(Central) Water Resources Ministry for special grant for drought-proofing the
state.
