Rural development Board sanctions Rs 67 crore for 265 schemes

New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) The Rural Development Board today sanctioned 67 schemes for the all round development of the villages of Delhi.

A meeting of the board, convened under the chairmanship of Delhi Minister of Development Rajkumar Chauhan at Delhi Secretariat today, also decided that the fund of Rs 140 crore of Panchayats, which is with the Board, would be spent on the developmental works of the villages.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, Mr Chauhan said the budget for rural development for the year 2006-07 is Rs 125 crore and proposals for developmental works worth Rs 125 crore have already been sanctioned. He pointed out that the Chief Minister had been requested to hike the budget of the Rural Development Board to ensure all-round development of the villages of Delhi.

Mr Chauhan said schemes worth Rs 66 crore were sanctioned in the previous meeting. It was decided at the meeting that the Rural Development Board would provide the budget to remove high-tension wires from the colonies under the 20-point programme.

Apart from this, it was also decided to provide 20 per cent amount from the Board for the development of Harijan bastis near the villages.

The Minister directed the officers of Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Department and the MCD to implement the schemes made for rural development speedily. He said if required arose, more budget would be provided for the developmental works.

Mr Chauhan said the process of installing mini sewage treatment plants was also reviewed at the meeting and the Delhi Jal Board, MCD and other concerned departments were directed to speed up the work.

The Minister said special attention was being paid on CC work in villages, development of parks, construction of community centers, Chaupals, ponds, development of crematoriums and building roads in the rural areas. He also made it clear that on the request of the local MLAs, the Gram Sabha land, which has been illegally occupied by some people, would be freed soon, so that this land could be used only for the rural development works. Instructions to this effect were also issued to all the Deputy Commissioners.

UNI