Bihar government to spend Rs 2000 crore on road construction

Patna, Mar 14 (UNI) Bihar government today announced it would spend Rs 2000 crore on construction and strenthening of State Highways, rural and district roads in the state.

State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after his return from New Delhi last night, told newspersons here that he had held discussions in the national capital with many construction companies with expertise in road construction.

He said they responded very well to the government's offer and many of them had shown interest in investing in the road construction. He revealed the government had set aside Rs 2000 crore for this purpose, separate from East West Corridor project or the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna.

He said that no compromise would be made on the quality of roads.

Mr Kumar said that he had also requested Union Energy Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to assess the power scenario himself by making a visit to the state.

He also urged Mr Shinde to direct National Hydro Electric Power Corporation for harnessing the potentials of the hydro power to the optimum level. He said that the Kaimur region of the state had a high potential for the hydro power.

Mr Kumar said that National Thermal Power Corporation should be similarly directed to explore possibililities of augmenting power generation through thermal stations.

Mr Kumar said he had also impressed upon the Central leaders for more allocation under the Rajeev Gandhi Vidyutikaran Yojna. He said the government was committed to providing electricity to all villages of the state by 2009. Contending that law and order situation had improved in the state, Mr Kumar said political interference in the police affairs was a matter of the past.

He said trial of cases booked under the Arms Act was being speeded up for improving conviction rate. He assured the criminals, indulging in unlawful activities after their release from the jail on bail, would be rearrested.

Mr Kumar said a criminal convicted under the Arms Act might be jailed for a minimum period of one year and maximum of three years.

He said modernisation of the state police headquarters was also on the top agenda of the government, adding appointment of police sub- inspectors and constables would be made transparent.

He said all vacant posts of sub inspectors and constables would be filled up in four months, adding ex-Army personnel would be appointed in the police force on contract as an immediate measure to frustrate attempts of criminals.

He said the phase of terror had ended in the state and warned the policemen to be ready for stern action if found lax in discharging their duties.

Mr Kumar said he would thrust on e-governance and equipment had been installed in his new residence (1, Anne Marg) for video conferencing with the concerned authorities.

He said he wanted to give a new look to the governance, adding the government took immediate action in the Forbesganj incident and two jawans of Government Railway Police were put under suspension after they were found guilty of abusing their powers.

He said sample test would be conducted by an NGO, Asian Developoment Research Institute (ADRI) and A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies for detecting the magnitude of bunglings committed in listing people living below poverty line.

He also said the government was also preparing a plan for interlinking the rivers in the state.

UNI