Tuni (East Godavari): Minister for Roads and Buildings Jakkampudi Ramamohana Rao has said that the Government will slash budget not only for his Ministry but also to other departments.

Addressing a press conference after participating in Indiramma gram sabha along with State Irrigation Secretary Satish Chandra and Collector Praveen Prakash, the Minister said that people knew that the Congress Government was giving top priority to irrigation and in coming budget, it would give Rs.800 crores additionally to irrigation sector.

That was the reason for slashing the budget allocation for all the departments, he said.

Media flayed

He said that during the last Cabinet meeting, all the Ministers had readily agreed to cut their budgets and supported the Chief Minister's commitment towards irrigation. "Some newspapers are raising hue and cry on the issue.

It is not only the R and B Department. All departments will have to contribute for the benefit of farmers," Mr. Ramamohana Rao said.

He said that the World Bank had agreed to give Rs.1,300 crores for repair and construction of bridges in the State and R and B Department itself had a budget of Rs.1800 crores every year.

The Minister said that Indiramma pathakam was aimed to eradicating poverty would be implemented during the next three years.

Water cess

Collector Praveen Prakash said that from now on, all people in municipalities would be charged Rs.60 instead of Rs.100 towards monthly water cess.

He also said that the Government had enhanced pension for widows, old age and handloom workers to Rs.125 from April 1. Senior Congress leader Rajah Ashok Babu and Municipal Commissioner Ch. Obulesu also participated in the meeting.

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