KTR launches the Palle Pragathi programme in Khammam

Khammam: Little initiative from everyone, including elected representatives, officials and more importantly the general public, will go a long way in making the unique 10-day Palle Pragathi programme launched by the State government, a complete success that would transform the urban landscape of Telangana, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K T Rama Rao said here on Sunday.

Stressing the need for collective and committed efforts to develop towns as healthy places to live in, the Minister, who was in town to participate in the programme, asked citizens, officials and elected members to work as a team to achieve the objectives of Pattana Pragathi. The Minister, besides inaugurating a slew of development works, also did some quick surprise inspection of ongoing works in the town which wore a festive look with a large number of people gathering to catch a glimpse of the TRS working president.

The Minister, explaining the objectives of Pattana Pragathi, said the aim was to convert urban areas into civilised places that could boast of basic amenities and cleanliness. He asked the people to own their towns saying that only then will they involve themselves fully.

Rama Rao pointed out that Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had clearly said that good sanitation must be given paramount importance both in Pattana Pragathi and Palle Pragathi. “Green Action Plans and



Sanitation Action Plans have to be designed at ward level first and then integrate all the ward plans for a town level plan,” he suggested.

The elected representatives and special officers in municipalities have to fully understand all the aspects of the new Municipal Act, which was formulated in such a manner that its implementation in its entirety could upgrade every town into a model one, he said, and called upon corporators to play a proactive role in association with the special officers in designing Green Action Plan and Sanitation Action Plan. 

“Field level visits and personal interactions with the residents is a must to prepare realistic and perfect action plan,” the Minister asserted.

Stating that the new Municipal Act stresses on the role of elected representatives in Urban Local Bodies in addressing public issues, Rama Rao said there is particular emphasis on increasing greenery by planting saplings and ensuring survival of at least 85 per cent plants, failing which the corporator concerned will lose his job.

“Planting saplings and maintaining cleanliness might look like small things. But they play very important roles in overall well being of the citizens living in towns” he averred. He also instructed the officials to issue notices to vacant plot owners who don’t maintain their sites.