Himachal Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Anil Sharma has urged the Centre to immediately release an outstanding liability of Rs 80 crore payable to the poor unskilled workers under MGNREGA programme.
Sharma thanked the Narendra Modi Government for releasing the outstanding arrears of the previous UPA Government and added that further amount of Rs 80 crore incurred during the last two months payable to the unskilled workers should also be paid without delay. He said the Budget under the MGNREGA had been enhanced from Rs 508 crore last year to Rs 572 crore this year.
The Minister said two parking lots were being constructed in Mandi at Jail Road and Jainchoo Naurn to ease the problem of parking and traffic congestion. One shop-cum parking lot would be constructed at Jail Road for the parking of 200 vehicles and another at Jainchoo Naurn for 231 vehicles, he said.
Referring to the suggestion of Union Minister, Arun Jaitley, that 60 per cent of the Budget should be spent on agriculture associated activities Minister pointed out that Himachal Pradesh was already spending 70 per cent on agriculture related projects.
He said the multi-crore drinking water supply gravity scheme drawing water from river Uhl, tributary of Beas, had been approved and was now underway. This would permanently solve the acute drinking water shortage in the town.