Deputy Chief Minister reviews district development with Collector and SP, directs officials to eliminate potholed roads, ensure drinking water supply, and complete Green Wall project before monsoon

KAKINADA: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Thursday announced that he would visit Kakinada district once every two months, saying he intended to engage directly with residents of both the Kakinada and Pithapuram constituencies to hear their grievances at first hand and ensure their prompt resolution.

Chairing a review meeting at his camp office in Mangalagiri with Kakinada District Collector M.N. Harendraprasad and Superintendent of Police Bindhu Madhav, Mr. Kalyan issued a series of directives covering infrastructure, public health, sanitation, youth welfare, and law enforcement.

Roads and water supply

Mr. Kalyan directed the Collector to ensure that not a single potholed road remained anywhere in the district. He said roads that had deteriorated beyond repair should be rebuilt entirely, while minor potholes were to be patched without delay. He also called for a comprehensive plan to develop all internal roads across the district, with particular attention to village-level connectivity.

On drinking water, the Deputy Chief Minister stressed that every household must receive potable water in line with the targets set under the Jal Jeevan Mission, and that disruptions to supply under no circumstances should be allowed to occur.

Health, sanitation, and youth

Mr. Kalyan asked officials to strengthen oversight of government hospitals, conduct periodic reviews of facilities, and prioritise sanitation management across the district. He directed that village-level parks be developed and that schools and hostels be visited regularly to assess and address the needs of students.

The Deputy Chief Minister also called for structured programmes to train youth in sports, arts, and vocational skills, saying that identifying and nurturing talent at the grassroots would multiply the productive capacity of young people in the district. He asked that libraries be strengthened and that mechanisms be put in place to recognise and encourage innovation among youth.

Green Wall and environment

Mr. Kalyan instructed forest officials to ensure that the Great Green Wall project — a coastal plantation drive along Kakinada district's shoreline — was completed before the onset of the monsoon. He asked that a tree-planting programme be launched as part of broader environmental conservation efforts in the district.

Crackdown on ration mafia

Addressing the SP, Mr. Kalyan called for firm action against the illegal diversion of PDS rice, saying that those involved in the ration mafia must be dealt with decisively. He directed the police to put in place stringent measures to prevent the illicit transportation of subsidised grain meant for the poor.

"I will visit Kakinada and Pithapuram every two months and meet people directly. Every problem they bring to me will be looked into personally."

— Pawan Kalyan, Deputy Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh

Mr. Kalyan holds the Pithapuram assembly constituency and has represented it since the 2024 general elections. Thursday's review is the latest in a series of administrative engagements he has undertaken at the district level since assuming office as Deputy Chief Minister.