Delhi Rural Development Board clears 527 schemes worth Rs 224 cr

New Delhi, Jan 9 (UNI) A total of 527 schemes pertaining to the rural areas worth Rs 224 crores were today approved by the Delhi Rural Development Board.

The schemes, which include the construction and maintenance of roads, ponds, khandajas community centre and crematorium in the villages of Delhi, were approved at a meeting of the Bord convened under the Chairmanship of Delhi Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan and attended by the MLAs of Rural areas of Delhi.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Minister said the financial clearance for the above shemes would be received soon.

Mr Chauthan said the government has decided to provide all basic amenities in the villages of Delhi before the commencement of the Commonwealth Gamers and it is for this objective the developmental works are being accelerated.

He pointed out that the government had earmarked Rs 167 crores for development of villages in the year 2007-08 and a total of Rs 423 crore have been sanctioned for rural development works in various meetings including the one held today.

Reiterating his commitment for the all-round development of villages, the Minister said a total of 807 schemes have been sanctioned in the last three years since the reconstitution of the Rural Development Board in 2004.

''1130 of these schemes have been sanctioned only in the current financial year which proves that the government is seriously working for the development of all 172 villages in Delhi.

He said the sanctioning of Rs 700 crore for various schemes is an important achievement of the Rural Development Board in this short span.

Mr Chauhan said 84 schemes worth Rs 6 crore have also been sanctioned in the meeting for providing electricity and clean and bygienic drinking water.

The decision was taken after some members of the board expressed concern over the large scale encroachment of Gram Sabah land.

The Minister stressed the need to pay special attention to the development of villages so that both the Rural and Urban areas of Delhi could witness equal development.

Also present at the meeting were the development Commissioner, Director Rural Development, Director, Panchayat and senior officers from the MCD, DJB and other departments.

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