AP to hold Zilla Parishad polls on reorganised district structure basis

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh govt is planning to conduct the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections based on the newly reorganised district structure. Deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan said the govt is making necessary preparations to hold local body elections accordingly and clarified that there are no legal hurdles in reorganising panchayats in line with the new districts.Addressing the assembly, he stated that the coalition govt is committed to strengthening local institutions and ensuring their financial and administrative self-reliance. He said several measures were initiated soon after the govt assumed office to empower panchayats and rural governance systems.Pawan Kalyan also spoke about balancing development with environmental protection. He noted that large-scale infrastructure works such as road expansion and development projects sometimes require deforestation. However, he emphasised that the govt is exploring suitable alternatives to minimise environmental damage and protect greenery.Highlighting another initiative, he announced that every plant distributed by the forest department would soon be geo-tagged to ensure its survival and proper monitoring. He acknowledged concerns raised by legislators that many saplings planted in the past were not adequately protected. To address this issue, the govt plans to introduce a monitoring system starting from nurseries to track each plant digitally.Officials are also studying advanced nursery management systems being implemented in Bengaluru to improve plant distribution and care. He stressed that the govt's focus will not only be on planting trees but also on ensuring their long-term protection.He also announced that a special committee was formed to study better pricing mechanisms for the sale of red sandalwood stocks. The committee will conduct periodic auctions in line with global prices to maximise revenue for the state.During the session, Pawan Kalyan also presented budget proposals for the financial year 2026-27 for departments under his charge, including panchayati raj, rural development, forest, environment, science and technology. The house was informed that budget allocations include ₹15,485 crore for panchayati raj, ₹11,217 crore for rural development, and ₹713 crore for the forest and allied department.