Centre Adds 6 More Districts To IAP

As per the Chief Minister's request, the Centre sanctioned Rs. 180 crores for 6 districts of Andhra Pradesh, and these districts are also now included under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for Selected Tribal and Backward Districts.

Sudha Pillai, member-secretary of the Planning Commission Of India, informed Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi that Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, Warangal, Karimnagar, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram have also been included under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP), and also that Rs. 30 crore will be released to each district for 2011-12 as a single installment for the remaining 3 months.

The Chief Minister thanked the Centre for the approval for the inclusion of the 6 districts of Andhra Pradesh under the IAP with the other 18 districts nationwide.

The Chief Minister had addressed the issue at the last Chief Ministers' conference on law and order with the Centre.

He, the CM, had also met with the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, and requested him to include these 6 districts under the IAP.

It may be recalled that the districts of Khammam and Adilabad have already been included under the IAP.

The district collectors have been advised to call for a committee meeting chaired by the District Collector, with the Superintendent Of Police and the District Forest Officer.

Under the scheme, various development activities will be taken up in these districts, including the construction of new roads, school buildings, hostels, Anganwadi centres, hospitals, and the infrastructure for rural electrification and other work.

According to a CMO release, road works costing about Rs. 1,000 crores are under way in Khammam and Adilabad districts.

The Integrated Action Plan will pave the way for the overall development of these 8 districts, the release said.

The 8 districts in the state will witness greater economic growth and overall peace and development with the implementation of the program, the CMO's release said. (INN)