With an intention to expedite the execution of road under Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), State Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has assured that State Government would appoint full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO), two Chief Engineers and six Executive Engineers in Uttarakhand Rural Roads Development Agency by June 30.
To avoid unnecessary delay in PMGSY due to delay in transfer of forest land, which was being given by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, Uttarakhand may be allowed to procure such clearance from State authority up to the five hectare or 12.5 acres land.
Currently such facility was given in 82 Naxal-infested areas only so they would try to provide such facility to the hill States as well. For this, State Government has been advised to write a letter to the Prime Minister and Rural Development Ministry would take up the matter. This was disclosed by Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh after having two hour-long meeting with officials to review the progress of rural development schemes in the State in Dehradun on Saturday.
During review meeting, it has found that 673 out 2,537 settlements, which is having more than 250 populations and eligible to have black top road under PMGSY, were connected with road so far. Total 1013 roads Detailed Project Report (DPR) were approved by the Union Government. Remaining 1,400 roads’ DPR yet to be made and sent to the Union Government.
State has been advised to send 300 DPR by November 30 and another 300 DPR by March 2014. Remaining 800 DPR will be sent before Union Government by December 2014.
Ramesh further said that State could not witness desired result due to State Government’ lackadaisical approach for the last 10 years and even it will take another 12 year but we have fixed target to connect all settlement with PMGSY road by next five years.
Union Minister said that there was need to give pace to the PMGSY. He said that in the last two years, proposals for Rs 1,100 crore had been sent to the Centre whereas in the ten years before that, proposals of Rs 1,550 crore had been sent.
He said there was need for a full time CEO to which the Chief Minister said that a CEO and two chief engineers would be appointed by June end. He assured the Minister that by November, 300 and by March 2014, 300 more DPRs would be sent.
Ramesh said that their Ministry is going to approved Rs 335 crore by June 13. With this State would build 82 roads and 27 bridges at the length of 660 kilometre well.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has sanctioned Rs 477 crore so far. Under MGNREGA Ministry has sanctioned Rs 168 crore to the State for this financial year. Now, Ministry has added few more works under MGNREGA and now toilets and Aaganwadi centres are being built under this scheme. Even small and marginal farmers can make their land cultivable including levelling and build irrigation facility under the scheme.
During the meeting, they decided that Rajiv Gandhi Bharat Nirman Sewa Kendra would be set up at every block headquarter within this financial year. Rs 25 lakh at block level and Rs 10 lakh at Gram panchayat level is being given by Central Government to build Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra.
Reviewing the Indira Aawaas Yojana, Ramesh said that under this scheme per unit cost in hill areas has been increased from this year, Rs 75,000 instead of Rs 48,500 earlier. Under this scheme, Ministry has allocated Rs 109 crore to the State and 1.4 lakh BPl families will be benefited in this financial year.
He informed that women Self-Help Groups should be strengthened. Now women SHGs will be given loan at seven per cent instead of 14 per cent earlier. It was decided that every three months, the Central Rural Development Minister and the Chief Minister would jointly review rural development schemes.
later, Chief Minister Bahuguna alleged that till 2010 mere Rs 44 crore was released by the Union Government because State Government failed to submit DPR of the proposals. Although Minister said that under Integrated Watershed Management project Union Ministry has released Rs 500 crore to the State in last two years. Sources said that less than Rs 25 crore spent by the State in last two years.