Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu Pushes for Affordable Housing and Sustainable Farming Initiatives

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed the state's Housing Department to fast-track the completion of 7.6 lakh homes by 2026 to boost housing in Andhra Pradesh. Speaking at a Monday review meeting at the Secretariat, Naidu underscored his vision of providing housing for every eligible citizen by 2029.

He highlighted the necessity of ensuring all basic amenities in new housing layouts across the state and encouraged collaboration with the Centre by signing an MoU to implement the Prime Minister Awas Yojana-2 (PMAY-2). Housing officials reported that since the TDP-led NDA government came to power, 58,578 units have been constructed under PMAY (Urban) and 17,197 in rural regions. They announced plans to complete another 1 lakh units by December, preparing for handovers to beneficiaries. Naidu also advocated for drone usage to monitor quality control across housing projects, stressing the importance of coordinated efforts to meet the state's housing goals.

Meanwhile, Naidu addressed the state's agricultural prospects, identifying Natural Farming as a transformative approach for sustainable growth. In another review session with Agriculture Minister K Atchannaidu, Naidu expressed his aspiration for Andhra Pradesh to become a national leader in Natural Farming, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize agriculture akin to the impact of IT. He directed officials to develop an action plan to support farmers with innovative techniques, including adopting drone technology for effective crop monitoring.

To address crop loss concerns, the Chief Minister approved a release of ₹37 crore to support farmers affected by losses in July, while officials reported that ₹319 crore had been disbursed for damages incurred in September. Additionally, Naidu announced the return of the old crop insurance scheme starting from the Rabi season, aiming to safeguard farmers' livelihoods better.