Works done in CG, but with leakages: Ramesh

Announces 1000 km new roads for state

Now Centre to provide aid to naxal-affected blocks

Says CAG to conduct performance audit of NREGA works in 12 states including CG

Raipur, November 09, 2011

Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh says that despite works been carried out in Chhattisgarh under his department, leakages impeded the developmental pace. Hinting that the leakages also benefitted naxals, the minister said the war against Maoists could not be solely fought on shoulders of police and paramilitary forces, but equally required effective implementation of works to bring positive changes in the affected regions. “It is more a psychological war and can only be won through development,” said Ramesh while interacting with media persons at PCC president Nandkumar Patel’s residence on Wednesday before the commencement of his two-day Bastar tour on Thursday.

Considering naxals expanding their domain in several blocks which are not part of naxal-hit districts and hence less development works being done there, Ramesh said the Centre would now provide financial succor to Maoist-infested blocks.

He informed that about 1000 kilometers of new CC roads under PMGSY would be constructed in ten naxal-hit districts to ensure better road network connectivity of those places with the remaining world.  “The Centre will incur 90% of the road construction cost instead of 50% in this project,” he said.

“Besides, we are planning to include scarce populated hamlets (i.e. population of at least 250 or more) under our project areas so that more number of locals could get benefitted by the development,” he said.

The minister further announced to provide houses under Indira Awas Yojana to the people whom the naxals render homeless. He said to ensure better implementation of MNREGA works, the states would appoint one panchayat development officer and one junior engineer in each gram panchayat. “The Centre will incur 75% of the expenditure on these new recruits for next ten years, however the state government would have to mandatorily appoint locals,” he said.

He clarified that the complaints he had received from Congressmen regarding corruption in MNREGA and PMGSY works during his previous visit were being scrutinised and suitable action would be taken only after final reports would come.

Further considering majority of scams being surfaced in MNREGA works, the minister said he had asked CAG to conduct performance report of the scheme in 12 state including Chhattisgarh. “We are providing Rs one lakh crore to the states to spend on rural development works every year and want the benefit to reach to the people,” he said.

On increasing ‘trust deficit’ between governments and public due to corruption, the minister said it would only be abridged through effective implementation of MNREGA and PMGSY works.

He said his ministry was also planning to urge the state government to adopt Dhamtari model of appointing banking correspondents in rural pockets for timely MNREGA payments. “If the state government will take initiative, Centre will bear Rs 80 per year on each account,” he said.

On opening of banks and post offices in remote rural areas, he said he had talked to Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal to provide at least one room for post office in each of the buildings being constructed under Rajiv Gandhi Bharat Nirman Seva Kendra in every gram panchayat. “This will sort out the problem of delayed MNREGA payments and eventually labour crisis,” he said.

Refusing to overtly target state government on corruption charges against it, Ramesh said he would take some more time to scan the status of his department’s works in the state before uttering anything.

“I will be back in Chhattisgarh again on two-day Sarguja tour next month on December 17 and 18. During this period, hopefully the outcomes of my efforts may appear and I may speak on sundry issues,” he said.