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Water Grid Scheme Earns Telangana a Pat From Centre

The Union government on Monday praised Telangana state for taking up the ambitious water grid project, envisaged to ensure drinking water to all villages in the state.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Telangana Panchayat Raj minister K T Rama Rao, Union minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Birender Singh opined that Telangana has set an example for other states. “Other states should draw inspiration from Telangana (with respect to the Water Grid project),” he said. The Union minister also said the Centre will help the states to get external funding to take up projects like Telangana government’s Water Grid.

Rama Rao arrived in New Delhi to attend the state Panchayat Raj ministers meeting. He met Birender Singh, along with a delegation of TRS MPs, before the meeting.

Speaking at the Panchayat Raj ministers’ meeting, Rama Rao stressed the need to strengthen the Panchayat Raj system. He urged the Centre to continue the three-tier system.

The minister informed Birender Singh that TS government was implementing the three-tier system. However, the Centre’s decision to transfer funds directly to Gram Panchayats was making MPTCs and ZPTCs mere ornamental posts. “The Finance Commission funds are transferred to gram panchayats directly and the Mandal Praja Parishads and Zilla Praja Parishads are ignored. The Centre should also accord importance and funds to MPTCs and ZPTCs,” Rama Rao requested Birender Singh. Birender Singh assured Rama Rao that the issue would be taken up for discussion in the next NITI Aayog meeting. The minister added that he will bring the issue to the notice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rama Rao said that Telangana government would organise a meeting in Delhi in January 2016 to discuss the importance of the three-tier Panchayat Raj system and will invite all states to participate.

Source: The New Indian Express

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