Jagan Asks Planners To Adhere To UN's SDGs

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy today asked the state's planning department to chalk out an action plan for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations (UN) for 17 different sectors.

Making a virtual appearance at the 69th Town and Country Planners' Conference, being held in Visakhapatnam, the CM said that the state needed to work towards achieving sustainable growth in all the 17 prescribed sectors, and that there was a need to embrace the SDGs to protect the planet.

"By the end of the conference, we should have a clear plan on how to achieve the UN's SDGs. We should work towards sustainable growth and development across all the 17 sectors the UN has suggested," he said.

Jagan told the officials that he was eager to see the suggestions they would make for sustainable growth in a post-Covid-19 world, and asked them to focus especially on environmental protection and on the provision of affordable housing while making their plans.

"There is an urgent need to control the anthropogenic activities that are leading to climate change and global warming. I hardly need to highlight this. We need to examine what we can do in this regard. Further, we must work towards inclusive development. As rents and property prices continue to skyrocket, we must do all we can to develop a comprehensive system of affordable housing for AP's middle-class and lower-middle-class population. The government is ready to accept the suggestions that you make to achieve this as long as the suggested solutions do not unduly burden it," he stated.

Further, the CM instructed them to ensure that the state government's welfare schemes were developed and implemented in tune with the SDGs.

The virtual meet was also attended by Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister Botsa Satyanarayana and several other senior officials.