Rural Development Board sanctions Rs 86 crore for 204 schemes

New Delhi, Aug 27 (UNI) The Rural Development Board of the Delhi Government today sanctioned Rs 86 crore for 204 schemes.

The schemes were sanctioned after a meeting of the Board, convened under the chairmanship of Minister of Development Rajkumar Chauhan, at Delhi Secretariat.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, Mr Chauhan, who is also the chairman of the Board, said the budget for rural development for the year 2007-08 is Rs 125 crore and the proposals for developmental works worth Rs 125 crore had already been sanctioned.

He said the Chief Minister has been requested to hike the budget of the Rural Development Board to ensure all-round development of the villages of Delhi.

Mr Chauhan said the meeting, where all MLAs of Outer Delhi, Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts, Project Director of the Rural Development Board, top officials of Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Jal Board were also present, took a decision that no demolition activities be carried out in the colonies established under the 20 point programme and rural development board would make all efforts to ensure development of these colonies.

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

He said the meeting also decided that the fund of Rs 140 crore of Panchayats, would be spent on the developmental works of the villages where it is incomplete.

The Minister directed officers of Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Department and the MCD to speedily implement schemes made for rural development.

He said if need arose more budget would be provided for the developmental works. Mr Chauhan said adeling that 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.

The Development Minister said MCD officials have been directed to formulate a comprehensive plan for the development of all main roads in the villages and put-up the proposal in the next meeting for approval.

UNI