Hans News Service Dhone (Nandyal district)

A major step towards improving rural infrastructure was taken on Thursday as District Collector G Raja Kumari launched household tap connection works in Kothaburuzu village of Dhone mandal in Nandyal district.

The project, costing Rs 30 lakh, is being taken up under the District Mineral Fund. Dhone MLA Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy was also present at the event. The aim is to provide safe drinking water to every home, as promised earlier by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu during his visit to the village.

The Collector said that access to clean drinking water will improve health and living standards of villagers. She also announced that 30 households will get individual toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission, with a total cost of Rs.4.5 lakh. She stressed that better sanitation will lead to a cleaner and healthier environment. She added that all approved development works will be completed on time, and pending proposals will be cleared within a week.

Speaking about agriculture, the Collector encouraged farmers to shift towards horticulture, which can bring higher income compared to traditional crops. She said crops grown on 7 lakh acres generate about Rs.4,000 crore, while horticulture on 49,000 hectares earns nearly Rs 7,000 crore.

The administration is also working on a 100-day plan to improve water security by restoring tanks and clearing feeder channels. The MLA said the government is committed to rural development and will fulfil all promises, including welfare schemes, housing, roads, and better irrigation methods like drip and sprinkler systems.