Source : The Hindu Date : 08.06.2009

ZP meet discusses agriculture, water supply

Special Correspondent

GUNTUR: First-ever Zilla Parishad general body meeting after formation of new Government in the State on Sunday seriously discussed about drinking water pollution in Mangalagiri and several other small villages in the district and took to task the Rural Water Supply officials for not reacting to the several complaints from people.

The meeting chaired by ZP Chairperson Kuchipudi Vijaya and attended by Ministers Gade Venkata Reddy and Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao, was attended by all newly attended MLAs and MLCs in Guntur district with grand welcome accorded to all members by the Zilla Parishad.

General body meeting of the Zilla Parishad witnessed some heated debate over pollution emanating from a major hospital in Mangalagiri, which was allegedly polluting water. The Mangalagiri MPP and other people’s representatives brought a bottle of polluted water and demanded immediate action from the Zilla Parishad. Minister for Technical Education Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao took to task the RWS officials for lack of reaction and wanted them to resolve the issue at the earliest. “Will you react after another Bholakpur happens in Mangalagiri?" questioned the Minister.

The in-charge District Collector Kanti Lal Dande also promised a mandal-level survey of all drinking water sources and promised cleansing of all tanks and filter beds to provide clean drinking water to people.

Other major issues discussed at the meeting included agriculture and sand reach lease. Cutting across the political lines, all people’s representatives led by K.S. Lakshmana Rao demanded storing a buffer of fertilizer ahead of the forthcoming khariff season. The District Collector promised to store 55,000 mt of fertilizer as buffer and streamline the distribution.