Hi All, We all had a nice google hangout with Vedire ji. Here are the meeting minutes for the hangout. Hari Pulijala has given a formal introduction to audience about the agenda and guidelines of the hangout. After giving a formal introduction of Vedire ji, the program has kick started. Sriram started by thanking the audience and informed what modi ji govt has been doing for the last 6 months. 1) Inflation control: PM set up a 5 point stabilzation fund of 500 crs to tackle the nuances of inflation control. All the state govts were asked to set up special task force to deal with black market and that has made the inflation come down to 5.5 from 10.2.So, we have cut down the inflation to half in a year. 2) Reduction of petrol and diesel prices 3) New Skill Development ministry to create more entreprenuers/jobs. 4) Make in India is launched to encourage manufacturing in india 5) All big and small central tenders will be online soon to give transparency. 6)Digital India program will be launched which will help tackle middleman in all the govt agencies. 7) STF appointed for Swiss black money and out 427 accounts, 256 account holders acknowledged that they own those accounts. 8) creation of 100 smart cities has begun. 7000 crs will be spent on this in the coming year alone. 9)Clean India aka Swacch Bharat which is promoting attitudinal shift in citizens to keep their surroundings clean. 10)Pradhan mantri sansad adarsh gram yojana aka PM Village adoption has begun where in existing MPs will adopt a village to develop it on par with urban areas. 11)Jeevan Praman Yojana started which will help citizens with proper data for pensions. 12) Growth rate has increased from 4.7 to 5.7 13)FDI in railways, defence that would promote make in India campaign and create huge employment. 14) Namami Gange aka Clean Ganga has begun with 2000 crs and once done, it will be a role model for other rivers/lakes. 15)Protection of Cows 16) PM Dhan Jan yojana started to deposit certain benefits directly into citizen accounts.40% Indians do not have a bank account. After this pgm started three months back, 7 crore accounts were opened (4.5 crore rural). This scheme has multiple benefits to the poor) 17)Diplomatic respect increased for indians across the world after Modi visited US,Japan,Australia,Nepal, Tibet etc. 18) Interests of farmers protected in WTO.US was made to agree to the clause of Giving farm subsidies, a major victory to India 19) 27000 Crs sitting unutilised in PF are shifted to Shramayeva Jayate program which focuses on labor welfare. 20) 24 hrs power for some states initially. Remember this is state issue but center is helping out. After this, the participants started asking questions: Kiran Dasari: Congratulations Sriram ji for being appointed as advisor for water resources. I have 3 questions. 1) Can you update any thing on river linking all over india? Ans:There were 84 major reservoirs planned earlier in the ILR plan, with the new tough laws on tribal, forest, environment etc. it is next to impossible to build so many do we are planning to modify and plan for 8 to 10 major reservoirs in the whole country under this ILR plan. 2) Can center focus on Musi also on the lines of Clean Ganga? Ans: We can not change industries that are throwing chemicals into rivers in a day. Every city is built on the basis of a river. We will use Ganga as role model and use the experience to help us fix other rivers. We asked for TG government to come up with a proposal and they are working on it as we speak. 3) Center vision on Nalgonda flourosis in near future? Ans:There are multi ways to tackle this problem. If we can get Godavari water to every nook and corner of TG, that would help the drinking water problem. Center is proposing a pilot project for flouride affected areas and I will include Nalgonda also into it.Another thing is recharge of ground water.Center will provide funds to increase the recharge of ground water scheme. Srikanth: 1) Asked a question on the nalgonda water issues which was answered earlier. 2) asked a question related to bjp growth for which vedire ji requested to reach offline. Vilas Reddy Jambula: 1) Will you suggest NRIs to come to active politics? Ans: Country needs many many educated, intellectual, matured and integral persons in politics. 2) How can NRIs serve native places? 3) How nris can participate in Village adoption program Ans: If you approach the dist collector, there are matching grants available. You can reach minsitry of overseas which can help on this also. Arun Ayyagari: 1)Congratulations on your good work and you are making all nris proud. On the lines of Clean Ganga, do we have priorities for other rivers listed after this? Ans: We are trying to clean the entire Ganga system which has Yamuna,Kosi and 10 other major rivers that are part of Ganga system.Right now, only Ganga project is taken at national level due to its importance to the major part of the country. Ultimately, the workmanship and the experience from this project will help us take more national level or center-state projects to clean up other river systems. Kartik reddy: 1) Do you see any friction between TG state and center thats blocking state development? PM Modi ji and KCR ji knows that it is development time now and politics can wait until 6 months before 2019 general elections. When KTR came to Delhi, we both met Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari and we worked on what are available for TG and what can be done by the rural Dev ministry. Srinivas Ranabothu: 1) What is centers stake on large dams like polavaram. Instead of this, isnt it better to go with multiple small dams which are not detriemental to the environment? Ans:Very good question and pertaining to what i am doing. You are 100% right. R&R policy in our country is very bad and weaker. Thats why we have a taken direction that we are first starting a Special purpose scheme and give R&R package to people first. Also, instead of building 84 major reservoirs as part of the ILR program, we are planning to have about 6 to 8 major reservoirs where needed and many small barrages which do not have side effects. 2) 24 hr power policy. Instead of giving 24 hrs to power surplus states like AP, wouldnt that make sense to give 12 hrs to states like TG which are having deficiency? 43000 crs are going to be spent on this. Rajasthan is a power deficient state and they are also part of this scheme. I will work with TG State leadership to work out on the nitty-gritties of this project and will try to get maximum benefit out of this. 3) Central govt take on farmers suicides? Ans:Center is ensuring MSP and also putting inflation under control.Center is providing agriculture related funds to states. States can use them to eradicate these suicides. Santosh Vemula: 1)Asked whether the news fom Deccan herald on TRS-BJP future alliance? Whether this is true or not? Ans: When elections are due in 2019, these will be known. Until then, these are all speculation. Vijay,Atlanta: 1. What exactly are your duties with in the ministry? Ans: advising the ministry on all water management issues and work with CWC, NWDA and central ground water board etc. Mainly concentrating on ILR, Ganga cleaning, various water conservation programs. 2. What are your objectives and plans for next 1yr & 5 yrs? Ans: Interlinking of rivers, clean ganga, ground water recharge increase 3. Do you have or working on any specific plans/suggestions for Telangana government? Ans: I am suggesting the TG govt on water resources such a way that we get more funds. 4. Can we expect your (Ministrys) cooperation for the proposed water grid in Telangana state? Ans: The grid needs to be planned such a way that we get some funds from central funds. I am helping TG govt. 5. Did center or state endorsed any of the proposed plans from your book on river waters? Ans: Rajasthan is using my blue print and are implementing it to increase the ground water recharge. Series of barriages on godavari where to make the river live and ensure inland water transportation is totally accepted by Gadkari ji. Gadkari ji promised to take Godavari as a top priority and implement it. Chetan Sriram: 1) How many National Highways will be upgraded or earmarked for next 5 yrs to Telangana?Can you push on this with your relations in ruling corridors? Ans: One of the best develop oriented person is Nitin Gadkari ji. He was the person behind Golden quadrilateral project under NDA. I proposed connecting Mumdai and Gopalpur (East-West corridor) which has TG and it will help TG(Goes through Nizamabad and connects Orissa/MH)to get 4 or 6 lane roads. Also, Hyd- Srisailam via Dindi will be made 4 or 6 lane road. 2) What about increasing Medical Seats in the state? The present Health minister J P Nadda ji knows most of the problems and he will help us in the coming economic year. Industries and power: Unfortunately, our power situation gone bad. Coal is ours and power generation is some where else. Seleru has gone out of our hands. If we put 4000 crs (free power scheme) towards solar for the next 4 yrs, we can be surplus power state. Aravind Modini: 1)What is Indias plan on China building dams on Bramhaputra. How do we tackle this situation. 40% of water linking will come from Brahmaputra.We, a team of 5 people studied the Brahmaputra and noted that volume of water coming from China/Tibet to India has decreased. We are aware of this issue and we are working at diplomatic/poltical level to solve. 2) How govt planning on to protect the dams from anti national elements? Safety is not an issue as we have CRPF and intelligence will take care of these. 3) How govt is planning for drinking water for its citizens when whole india is drinking bottled water? Its a major worry for us. We have to ensure surface water and also increase ground water. People do not have confidence in Sewage treatment plants.Strict measures are taken and industries are given 6 months time frame to work on the affluent treatment. Vinoy Mayreddy: 1)Why cant we focus on Golusu kattu,cheruvulu instead of big projects in Nalgonda to avoid flourosis? State govt is going in the right direction with Mission kakatiya. Shekar Palla: 1) Nakkalagandi tunnel project progress and any help from center? Ans: State need to spend more funds on this and Center can help with AIBP(Accelerated irrigation benefits program) Scheme to help complete the project. Venkat reddy: 1) what are the plans for controlling pollution? Ans: As responded earlier, we have given zero liquid compliance rule to industries on the Ganges and they need to stick with it. Unfortunately, pollution control in the country has become a big mockery. JPR Reddy: 1)All these days Musi river water has not been utilised properly by surrounding people in Nalgonda district.Is there any possibility to have proper plan to utilise Musi in effective way? Ans: I agree. People are getting skin diseases/health issues due to musi.If state govt take initiative, center can definitely help. D P Reddy: Please try to get more central funds for Flourosis affected villages of Nalgonda .Also get more central aid for our TS Govt WATER GRID project.? Ans:TG Govt stipulated 22000 crs for the water grid and they can actually do it with lesser funds also. I have already given inputs to state govt and i will help them fit into any central govt scheme to get funds for this.Flourosis question has been answered earlier. Sridhar Gudala: Is it helpful if we include Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to clean village lakes/rivers etc.. in the mission? Ans: This is a very good idea.Swachh Bharat campaign itself is taken up by zero funds. It is an emotional and moral appeal from PM Modiji that citizens are taking part of it voluntarily. I will inform PMO of the suggestion. Santosh Ankam: 1)Electricity Connectivity between north corridor and south corridor. any help from central govt on this? Ans: Lots of reforms from power sector will be coming. We are working on bringing private distributors who can work on transmitting power from HP to TG or vice-versa. More details will be coming soon from the power ministry. 2)Railways Kazipet coach factory? I think lot of politicians gave false promises to get int power. I am sure if feasibility study is done and implementable, then only there are chances. 3)National institute of design shifted from Hyderabad to vijay wada.Can new one be granted to Hyderabad? If it is shifted, we will get another institute as per the state formation act. AIIMS is given to us also along with AP although in the bifurcation act it was only allocated to AP. Dharam Guruva reddy: 1. All the Tanks in and around major cities and towns are polluted with drainage water. Funds have been either not utilised or mis-used on these projects. what steps and legislative resolutions are made to clean the tanks effectively in Center as well as states? what about Telangana Tanks cleaning? Ans: Trust me, we have enough legislations. Implementation is the problem. We have stricter laws already in place. Prabhakar Konda: 1.Could you post your updates on clean Ganges mission after supreme courts order to submit more detailed plan. Ans: I already shared earlier. 2.Any suggestions and help will be provided by GOI to clean Hussain Sagar in Telangana? 3.What are the steps taken so far in interlinking of rivers (a pet project initiated by previous NDA government)? 4. What is the best way to resolve water disputes between Telangana and AP by GOI. This seems to be a never ending story so what is the plan from Water Resources department in resolving the crisis? Ans: Answered earlier. Chandra shekar,london: 1)Any plans to provide spl needs to middleeast low end workers in crisis time? Ans: We have given representation on this issue to Smt Sushma swaraj ji and she is working on it. Diplomatically, we are doing really good. Srinivas Kuthuru: 1) asked question on safe drinking water to students in schools. Ans: Agree we need drinking water in nalgonda. I will wait till GoI announces the drinking water scheme. 2) Appeal to NRIs by Harish Rao. How NRIs can contribute? Ans: Please talk to Dist collector and get more details. Tell dist collector that you would like to spend 2 or 5 lakhs for construction of library or toilet or culvert. Venu: 1) Expected time and cost for clean ganga? Ans: 5 years. We are working on the cost assuming industries stick to pollution control. We are putting 2000 crs this year. Gopal Alankar: 1) Asked about the advisory role which was answered earlier. With this, Srinivas Reddy Kuthuru gave a vote of thanks for spending his valuable time. The event was very much informative and we thank all the NRI community for making this event a big success. Close to 80 people have attended the event.We are really proud of the NRIs who showed commitment and passion to nation building. Special thanks to Kuthuru Srinivas reddy, Vilas Reddy Jambula,Kiran Dasari,Aravind Modini, Arun Ayyagari, Kartik reddy Arutla who helped moderate the event. Special thanks to Vision Telangana for putting more concrete questions to Vedire on Telangana water resources. I am extremely sorry as I could not take another 15 questions from the google forms submitted by offline users. I will send out an email to Vedire ji on the remaining questions. --Jai Hind. Jai Telangana. Thanks, Hari Pulijala
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 16:16:53 +0000
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