Hyderabad: Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu on Saturday directed officials of the welfare departments to complete hostels that are already 80% finished within the next three months, so that they can be made ready for use in the upcoming academic year.Chairing a review meeting at the secretariat, he examined budget proposals of the SC and ST welfare departments and also held discussions with officials from the medical and health, forest and endowments departments. Bhatti stressed that repair bills related to welfare hostels should be submitted to the finance department every 15 days to ensure timely payments. He instructed officials to complete all pending repair works during the summer so that students can use the facilities when the academic year begins. During the review with the medical and health department, Bhatti asked the AYUSH department to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants. In discussions with the forest department, he encouraged officials to promote tourism initiatives that involve local communities in forest conservation and also stressed the need to address pollution control issues.
