Union minister pledges rural development funds to BTC

Kokrajhar, Nov 12 (UNI) Union Minister for Rural Development Raghuvansh Pratap Singh today said his ministry was mooting the idea of making rural development funds directly available to the Bodoland Territorial Council(BTC) in Assam.

He was addressing a gathering at the BTC central hall in Kokrajhar.

Stressing that funds were not a constraint for rural development, Mr Singh asked the BTC leadership to prepare and submit a master plan for development of the council-administered four districts.

BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary submitted a memorandum and a project proposal to the Union minister at the function and sought his cooperation and help for all round development of BTC areas.

Mr Singh also underscored the Union Rural Development ministry's thrust on connectivity development in all remote areas and said rural roads in BTC areas will be developed in two phases.

He said, ''Providing connectivity, electricity and drinking water in rural areas is the prerogative of our ministry and we are striving to do it.'' State Cabinet ministers Pramila Rani Brahma, Chandan Brahma and Rihon Daimary were present along with other leaders of the BTC.

The Union minister later visited the newly constructed Roumari embankment on Ai river in Chirang district, under BTC. Built at an expense of Rs seven crore, the embankment under NREGA is among the biggest in the state.

UNI