FIT AND SMART: Trainee constables demonstrating their taekwondo skills at the Republic Day celebrations held at Ongole on Thursday.

ONGOLE: Prakasam district aims at educating one lakh persons under the second phase of adult education programme beginning from Thursday.

Addressing the Republic Day parade held here, Collector B. Udaya Lakshmi said that the district received 120 mm more than normal rainfall this year which helped farmers raise crops on 1.87 lakh hectares in kharif and 2.86 lakh hectares in the rabi season. Farmers have been asked to give up commercial crops and go for alternative crops which can fetch them remunerative price.

Banks have provided credit of Rs. 341 crores during kharif season and Rs. 290 crores till now in the rabi season as against a target of Rs. 391 crores. Farmers are encouraged to take to cultivation of Sri Vari and demonstration plots were organised on 600 acres. Farmers are provided markers and weeders worth Rs. 1,800 free.

Irrigation facilities

The district has taken up Velugonda, Mallavaram, Ramatheertham and Ulichi projects to improve irrigation facilities. Land acquisition and rehabilitation of affected people are in full swing. Free power is provided to 69,597 agricultural connections and arrears amounting to Rs. 99 crores were waived. Steps are being taken to provide power connection to 10,500 pumpsets under tatkal scheme and 1750 pumpsets under normal scheme.

Eight sub-stations were constructed and 3,247 transformers were erected at a cost of Rs. 28 crores to augment power supply. Steps are being taken to electrify 662 colonies and 1.27 lakh below poverty line families at a cost of Rs. 33 crores under Rajiv Gandhi rural electrification programme.

Under Indiramma programme, 369 villages and 44 wards were selected for comprehensive development and to provide roads, drains, drinking water, street lighting etc and supply ration cards, pensions, individual latrines.

Protected water supply

Out of 2,328 habitations in the district, protected water supply was provided fully to 888 and partially to 1068. As many as 39 villages were provided protected water during this year exceeding the target of 32 villages.

Pilot projects were taken up to quench the thirst of 216 villages at a cost of Rs. 35 crores.

Projects have been sanctioned for Chimakurthi, Medarametla and Giddalur.

A textile park has been sanctioned at Nayanipalli in Vetapalem mandal at a cost of Rs. 18 crores. Netabajar is being constructed at Ipurupalem near Chirala at a cost of Rs. twenty lakhs.

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