The State government has always been with farmers and has accorded priority to the agriculture sector which transformed Telangana into a major agriculture State in the country said Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
He was addressing the district collectors at Pragathi Bhavan emphasising the development of the state in all sectors. Both the urban and rural areas must see the same kind of development he opined.
KCR said that Telangana had subsequently emerged as the rice bowl of the country. “With vast lands coming under cultivation in the State, there was an urgent need to increase the number of rice mills. The officials should focus on the processing of paddy that has been procured,” he said, and instructed officials to take steps to increase food processing units across the State.
The food processing units should be set up in SEZ that are at least 250 acres and a buffer zone should also be created alongside, he said, and stressed on the need to ensure that permissions for layouts are not given in these areas.
The police and agriculture departments should take stern action against those selling spurious seeds and the District Collectors should use their special powers to crack the whip on such persons.
Directing the officials to chalk out city-wise cleaning profile, the Chief Minister asked the officials to identify retired government and army personnel and utilise their services during the Pattana Pragathi programme. Officials should give at least half a dozen saplings to every house in villages and these saplings should be delivered at the doorsteps.
To address power issues in rural areas, a ‘Power Day’ should be observed when officials should educate villagers and ensure their participation in Shrama Dhanam to resolve such issues. “HT lines running over houses villages should be removed,” he said
Land allocated for public service should be registered in the names of gram panchayats and municipalities, he said. A comprehensive report should be prepared to resolve the Podu land issues, he said and instructed the Forest department officials to identify the boundaries of 66 lakh acre of forest land across the state that are in the records.
