Union Minister satisfied at Bharat Nirman schemes in Assam

Guwahati, Oct 21 (UNI) Union Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has expressed satisfaction at the progress of Bharat Nirman schemes in Assam, though it took some time for the state to pick up the pace in its implemention.

''The work was a little delayed in picking up here, but the progress is satisfactory now,'' he said here yesterday after reviewing the progress of work of Bharat Nirman schemes.

He affirmed that all work would be completed by 2010 and said, ''Though the target to complete Bharat Nirman schemes is 2009, it would be completed practically in 2010 all over and Assam would also definitely achieve it.'' Stressing on the Ministry's concern towards to quality, Dr Singh said, ''In case of rural roads scheme, for example, 14 per cent completed work was found unsatisfactory in Assam. All were hauled up and rectification and punishment ordered.'' Three assistant engineers of the state PWD were also suspended, he added.

He informed that Rs 6,176 crore has been cleared for 12,246 km length of roads, connecting 11,440 habitations and covering 72 per cent of the total road length in Assam.

The DPRs of the remaining length is expected to be cleared by December, he added.

In case of NREGA, 20 lakh families have been provided with job cards in the state, of which nine lakh job card holders have been provided employment.

All payments would be made through bank or post office accounts by the end of this month, with business correspondence system introduced to reach the most remote areas, he said.

The minister maintained that similar success has also been achieved in other Bharat Nirman schemes - rural housing, self employment generation schemes and clean drinking water supply schemes.

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