Karimnagar, Aug. 27: In an effort to expedite the ongoing development works in the vast Manthani division comprising several backward villages, which hitherto remained the citadels of the Naxal outfits, the district administration has laid focus on executing works including the soon-to-be launched lift irrigation scheme at Kaleshwaram in Mahadevpur mandal on a priority basis.

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, is likely to launch the lift irrigation scheme at Metpalli near Kaleshwaram in the next fortnight, sources said.