Kiran proposes flexibility in utilisation of Central funds

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday stressed the need for making allocation of Central funds in the Rural Development Department on the basis of demand and actual utilization of funds by the State Governments.

The Chief Minister said, "While we recognise the need for building up capacities for weaker and poorer States for execution of poverty alleviation programmes, States which done well on implementation should not be neglected. Andhra Pradesh has done consistently well and has demonstrated capability to implement poverty alleviation programmes with the active engagement of the stakeholders. I would urge that Central allocations may be done based on demand and performance in the States".

Kiran Kumar Reddy was speaking at the Southern Zonal Council meeting at Bangalore on Friday. He requested the Karnataka Government to extend the `Golden Chariot’ luxury train, which is run by the Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation, on par with 'Golden Triangle' by including Tirupati and Hyderabad packages in Andhra Pradesh as an integrated circuit. Under Tirupati package, the visits to places like Tirumala, Tiruchanoor, Srikalahasti and Kanipakam can be included. AP Tourism Development Corporation will facilitate all the arrangements for Darshan at these Temples.

"In Hyderabad package, the places like Charminar, Salar Jung Museum, Qutub Shahi Tombs, Golconda Fort, Shilparamam (Arts & Crafts village) can be included as part of promotion of Heritage Tourism and AP Tourism will ensure proper arrangements for local site seeing in coordination with the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation," the Chief Minister said.

Regarding the Red Sandalwood, Kiran Kumar Reddy said that in order to have an effective control on the smugglers, concerted efforts were needed through coordination between forest and police officials of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu States. "As an immediate measure to control smuggling, the neighboring State Government may be requested to book cases under the provisions of Preventive Detention Acts to impose deterrent punishments on Red Sanders smuggling," he said.