Centre-State Coordination Key To Karimnagar Development: Minister Ponnam Prabhakar

Political differences should be confined to election periods, while development must remain the common priority thereafter, State Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said, emphasising the need for elected representatives to work together for the progress of the erstwhile Karimnagar district. Speaking after inaugurating several development works in Karimnagar on Monday, he said he would join hands with Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar, State ministers, MLAs and other public representatives to accelerate development, setting aside individual political interests. He said the broader objective was to transform the region into a leading district in North Telangana with coordinated support from the Central and State governments.

The minister said completing pending irrigation projects would be a major priority, particularly those that had already achieved 70 to 90 per cent progress. He pointed to the presence of Singareni, NTPC and Godavari water resources as significant development opportunities and said plans were being prepared to strengthen education, healthcare, industrial parks and infrastructure.

Expanding educational opportunities was another key focus. Proposals had been submitted for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas at Bhimadevarpalli and in Rajanna Sircilla district, while efforts were underway to secure Kendriya Vidyalayas at Jammikunta and Husnabad. The government was also looking to promote higher education in law, pharmacy and engineering and complete the unfinished medical college building to improve healthcare facilities.

Prabhakar said tourism and religious infrastructure would receive attention, with development plans covering Vemulawada, Kondagattu, Dharmapuri, Kaleshwaram and Kothakonda temples, besides Elagandula Fort and other tourist destinations.

Addressing urban development, he said Karimnagar's growing population required improved civic infrastructure. He also sought the intervention of Finance Minister and district in-charge Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao to complete unfinished double-bedroom housing projects and distribute houses to eligible poor families. The State Cabinet had recently approved around 1,000 new posts for urban development, he added.

Urging residents and journalists to actively contribute suggestions, Prabhakar assured that public concerns would receive attention and efforts would be made to secure additional funds from both governments.

Meanwhile, Prabhakar and Bandi Sanjay Kumar laid the foundation stone for a ₹1.5 crore box-type drainage project in the 46th division of Karimnagar Municipal Corporation, funded through UDIF. Mayor Kolagani Srinivas, Municipal Commissioner Prapul Desai, local corporator Mallikarjun Rajender and other officials and public representatives attended the programme.