VISAKHAPATNAM: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday laid the foundation-stone for a Rs.11.5-crore desalination plant at Bheemunipatnam, 30 km from here.

Addressing a public meeting at Tagarapuvalasa bus stand near the venue where the foundation stone was laid, he said that top priority would be accorded to improve civic amenities and living conditions in towns, particularly in respect of urban water schemes and roads.

``The desalination plant is the first of its kind being set up in the State with the assistance of the Centre. We have chosen one of the oldest municipalities, Bhimili, for the project. The Government is determined to develop both Bhimili and Tagarapuvalasa as little towns.''

Housing

Dr. Reddy revealed that he had earlier laid the foundation-stone for municipal office and shopping complex to be built at a cost of Rs. 50 lakhs. The Government had taken up the Rajiv Gruhakalpa scheme to provide housing to all the 40 lakh urban homeless in the State, he said. Already 2,000 houses had been sanctioned for Bhimili and 2,000 more would be granted, he added.

The Chief Minister said that all poll promises were being fulfilled like free power to farmers, development of lands given to the poor with Rs.500 crores under the Indira Prabha scheme, and 5 per cent reservation for Muslims.

The Government's objective was all-round development of towns and villages, he said.

Call to women

Urging women to form into self-help groups (SHGs) and avail themsleves of loans being given by commercial banks for self-employment schemes at concessional rate of interest, he said that garment-making and fashion technology held great promise and women could easily earn Rs.2,000 to Rs.3,000 a month.

Earlier, he inaugurated a training centre for women in fashion technology in the town.

Dr. Reddy accused the previous Telugu Desam Party regime of grossly neglecting towns and failing to build up urban infrastructure during its nine-year tenure.

Thanking the Chief Minister for the desalination plant, MLA Karri Sitaram sought sanction of Rs.5 crores more for drinking water schemes and another Rs.5 crores for roads in Bhimili.Dr. Reddy also laid the foundation-stone for the Tagarapuvalasa bus stand and a water park to be developed by VUDA at Bhimili.

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