Hyderabad: In one year, the Telangana government has developed a whopping 19,472 Palle Prakruthi Vanams (PPVs) across the State, promoting greenery and providing recreation facilities to residents in rural areas.
Panchayat Raj and Rural Development department has completed the project of developing the PPVs in 12,770 Gram Panchayats on Thursday. The highest number of PPVs – 1,426 has been developed in Nalgonda district, followed by 1,280 in Bhadadri Kothagudem and 1,176 in Adilabad.
Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister E Dayakar Rao has been monitoring the PPV works regularly, besides directing the officials to ensure their maintenance.
Each park is developed in an average area of one acre. These parks are equipped with walkways, benches and other facilities for visitors to relax and rejuvenate. Residents in many villages are using them for morning and evening walks, besides conducting yoga classes and other awareness programmes.
The objective behind developing these parks was to promote greenery and offer green lung space for residents in the villages. It is a brainchild of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and no other State in the country has come up with such an initiative, said a senior official from the PR and RD department.
Not confining to the development of the parks, equal importance is being accorded to maintenance. The State Government has taken up this project with a cost of Rs.1, 084 crore.
Gram Panchayats have been entrusted with the task of operation and maintenance of these parks. Availability of funds is not a challenge as the State Government is releasing funds every month regularly, the official informed.
Under Palle Pragathi programme, the State Government has provided a trolley, tractor, tanker and other equipment to every Gram Panchayat in the State.
The Panchayats were now making good use of these vehicles and equipment in maintaining the parks. Focus is being laid on setting up bio-fencing around the parks as a means to prevent encroachments and improve aesthetics, said the official.
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