KADAPA: Twenty three acres of land belonging to Kadapa Cooperative Sugars Limited at Dowlathapuram in Chennur mandal which was encroached upon, will be taken over by this month end, Collector G. Asok Kumar said on Tuesday.

Mr. Kumar, who inspected the recently revived sugar factory, instructed the Managing Director Rami Reddy to take over 23 acres of the sugar factory lands, on harvest of papaya crop raised by encroachers. Steps should be initiated to commence crushing of sugarcane in the factory in the last week of January, he said. He directed revenue officials to survey the extent of encroachment and construct boundary walls.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy would launch sugarcane crushing in January, he said. He promised to discuss with the MD workers' demand for wages on par with their counterparts in other units.

Later, speaking at a loan mela for women self-help groups at Ramapuram, the Collector advised them to avail of bank loans to gain self-employment. Rayalaseema Grameena Bank's Ramapuram branch disbursed Rs. 66 lakhs as loans to members of 120 SHGs.

He urged them to hold regular meetings and maintain records, besides repaying loans promptly. The district has 22,000 SHGs, including 15,000 in A grade, he said.

13,000 dropouts

Urging women SHG members to compulsorily send their children to school, he lamented that the district had 13,000 dropouts despite the setting up of schools in all villages and implementation of mid-day meals scheme. He advised people to join hospitals for deliveries by using the facility of emergency transportation.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail