Anantapur: Emphasizing close cooperation between elected representatives and administrative machinery, Anantapur MP Ambika Lakshminarayana and District Collector O Anand chaired a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting at the Zilla Parishad office on Wednesday.
Addressing officials and ZP Chairperson Boya Girijamma, MP Ambika stressed that holistic regional development depends on the smooth, effective execution of 108 Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
She noted that parliamentary efforts have successfully pushed for fund releases under the Jal Jeevan Mission and restored the annual Rs. 50 crore Rayalaseema Backward Districts Development Fund.
Reviewing local allocations, officials noted that Rs. 12.54 crore has been sanctioned for 154 works under MP local area development funds.
With severe El Niño conditions threatening water availability, the meeting prioritized drinking water security. Collector Anand urged strict monitoring of Jal Jeevan Mission digital records and advised farmers to substitute water-intensive paddy and chili crops with drought-resistant alternatives.
Addressing student welfare and campus safety, the committee took severe note of the Trellis School controversy, ordering the District Educational Officer (DEO) to initiate license cancellation based on inquiry findings.
Furthermore, officials distributed 5000 ONGC-sponsored uniforms to hostel students, scheduled routine school inspections, and proposed installing RO water plants using MP funds. Local infrastructure bottlenecks, including traffic congestion at Rudrampeta Junction and water stagnation at Kallur ROB, were also reviewed for immediate resolution.
