Telangana municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD) Minister K.T. Rama Rao claimed on Thursday that the government accorded top priority to the creation of infrastructure in municipalities in the past few years.
K.T. Rama Rao revealed that the state government spent a staggering amount of Rs 15,961 crore on 141 municipalities across the state in the last 8.5 years, which, he claimed, no other state in the country did.
Addressing a workshop on Pattana Pragathi, the urban development programme of the state government, Rao said that the Centre's awards to state urban local bodies are a testament to Telangana's good work.
In the Swachh Survekshan rankings, Telangana bagged 26 awards this year. Similarly, in the Swach Survekshan Grameen for December 2022, the top three awards in the four-star category were bagged by Rajanna Sircilla, Karimnagar, and Peddapalli.
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He said that the Centre cannot afford to ignore the development ushered in by the state government in towns and villages, regardless of political affiliations.
Appreciating officials and staff for winning 26 awards in Swachh Survekshan-2022, he said that the central government's awards are a testament to the focus, commitment, and passion invested by people in the state. KTR urged the officials and staff to be innovative at work and asked them not to hesitate in pitching new ideas, He said he was committed to making the department the best in the country.
KTR informed that 42 out of 141 municipalities had achieved ODF++ status and asked the Municipal Commissioners, ACLBs of the remaining 99 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to focus on achieving the distinction.
He said that Pattana Pragathi Dhinotsavam will be held in February, where Municipal Commissioners, ACLBs who have done exceptional work in innovation, city beautification, and improving greenery will be recognised and rewarded.
(With IANS inputs)