KCR calls for 'Clean village movement'

Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao has called for ‘out of box’ thinking for comprehensive development of villages and a three-month action plan to achieve this goal. To start with, he said the first month should focus on cleaning up of all villages. The ‘clean village movement’ should be launched on August 15, Independence Day, the Chief Minister said.Chandrasehkhar Rao’s call came at a meeting where he reviewed the functioning of the Panchayat Raj Department at Pragati Bhavan on Thursday in the backdrop of the new Panchayat Raj Act coming into force in the State. 

The Chief Minister said there was need to increase the salaries and allowances of Panchayat Raj staff in general and sanitation staff in particular. As part of the month-long clean-up villages programme, focus should be on removal of debris, taking steps to prevent and end water logging on streets, removal of weeds, developing nurseries for growing plants, and planting of trees under Haritha Haram programme. “Villagers should be encouraged to voluntarily take part in all these activities,” the Chief Minister said, adding that officials should also make full use of MGNREGA funds for these purposes.