Mishra assumes office as BRC chairman

Raipur, March 01, 2013

State’s former chief secretary Suyogya Kumar Mishra assumed office as chairman of Block Reconstitution Commission (BRC) on Friday. 

The government has recently appointed Mishra as BRC head and asked him to submit report of reconstitution of development blocks by June 30, 2013. It is learnt that there could be delay in preparation of the report as Mishra would be on foreign tour for entire month of May 2013. 

The government has made a provision of Rs 12 lakh for the commission in budget 2013-14. There is no provision of separate team for the commission. Mishra, who also holds advisor’s post in state Finance Commission (FC), would have to use FC staff to do BRC works. 

On the first day at office, Mishra sent a proposal to the government to appoint a senior deputy collector-level official as secretary of the commission to assist him. 

On Friday, a delegation from Bemetara district met him and demanded to make Saja a separate development block. 

Mishra indicated that he would first study the demands and suggestions received by the government for reconstitution of blocks. He will then invite proposals from district collectors, CEOs of district panchayats, MPs and MLAs. In April 2013, he will organise public hearing at divisional headquarters and then prepare comprehensive report. 

Presently, there are 148 development blocks in state. The commission is expected to reconstitute these blocks and make 50 new blocks on grounds of population, area and obstacles in availability of communication system. 

Notably, some of the blocks including Arang, Abhanpur, Mungeli, Bilha and Kota have population over two lakh. On the other hand, area-wise, Kota is largest development block in the country.