Vijayawada: The young Minister for IT, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Nara Lokesh, is emulating his father, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in adapting to the technology in conducting his Ministerial business. He held a video conference with the district Collectors on the availability of drinking water in the districts.

The Minister using the teleconference system introduced by his father told the district Collectors to have the regular monitoring of the drinking water from the village level. He had directed them to get ready to meet any eventuality in the middle of the summer if people have problems in having access to the drinking water. The Minister announced the introduction of a toll free number to receive complaints from people about drinking water. He said that the call center established by the department had come as handy for the officials to rush to the aide of the people providing drinking water this summer. He wanted the official to plan ahead of the summer next year and see that all the drinking water tanks and ponds in the villages across the State are filled in advance.

The Minister is also monitoring the availability of the officials to the calls and said that he would take the officials response in assessing their performance. He wanted the officials to have separate plans to provide drinking water for the people and livestock. He also directed them to focus on the Uddanam area in north Andhra region and the drough-hit Markapur area of Prakasam district to provide regular water supply.

The Minister directed the officials to open more drinking water centers in the villages and towns to make safe and protected drinking water available. He had directed the Collectors to identify the villages where new water plants are required and take steps to establish them at the earliest. The Minister wanted the officials to have better coordination between the officials of the panchayat raj and rural water supply for better results.