Udhampur: Giving new direction to spending of funds under MGNREGA and other schemes, Department of Rural Development on the directions of minister Abdul Haq Khan, converged Rs 48 crores funds for 156 works including construction of 110 foot bridges in Udhampur and Jammu.
The minister had earlier directed officers not to resort to useless works under MGNREGA but had asked them to create assets for their villages under the scheme. He had also called for convergence of funds to complete long pending projects.
In first, the minister laid foundation stone of bridge at Panchayat Hartyan, as a part of Project Rahat. The 110 bridges are being constructed in convergence of funds from MGNREGA with DIF, Untied Grants, CSR, MPLADS, MLA-CDF, SCA and other contributions for funding.
Haq Khan said Convergence initiative with MNREGA will not only ensure speedier execution but also will ensure that the works which started some 10 years ago will finally see the light of the day.
The minister approved an amount Rs 11crores under MGNREGA for Jammu district which will provide Viability Gap Funding to an expenditure of nearly 37crores being incurred by Horticulture, Sericulture, Education, Forest, Rural Development, ICDS, IWMP, PWD(R&B) and Irrigation & Flood Control departments under different Centrally and State sponsored Schemes,
While inaugurating the bridge minister said the government is committed to give Rahat (Relief)to the people especially students. He said under the scheme 110 foot bridges will be constructed this year for schools, remote hamlets, livestock routes, ration supply lines and other unconnected habitations in the Udhampur district.
Haq Khan said the construction of these foot bridges will be a boon for more than 20,000 students of 150 schools in district besides benefitting more than 1.60 Lakh populations. He assured financial support to the project from Rural Development Department.
Minister also inaugurated up-gradation of Fruit Plant Nursery at Garhi, Mishriwala and development of playfield at Higher Secondary School, Sunjwan under convergence.
Elaborating the plan initiative, minister informed that RDD will provide Rs. 34 lakhs to support the Horticulture in modernizing 11 Fruit plant nurseries. Rs 4 lakh will be provided under NREGA to bring 100 kanals of area under Mulberry plantation thereby supporting the efforts of Sericulture department, he added.
Minister also said the department will provide an assistance of Rs. 58 lakhs to Education department to complete their 23 incomplete works while Rs 488 will be given to R&B to provide longevity and sustenance to its nine Roads and Bridges.
Minister said the convergence of funds to complete works in other departments will be a model for other districts for just utilization of funds of various scheme. The funds were getting misused earlier. But now we will build assets in villages under these schemes and wont allow misuse of the funds, he added.
The Minister asked for circulation of Jammus Convergence plan document to all the other districts of the state for replication.
People come up with proposals of protection bunds, paths etc. forget these small works. Lets do some useful works for the society and create assets in our locality, he said.
The minister stressed on the people to act as watchdogs by keeping eye on the developmental works.
Haq Khan lauded the efforts of district authorities in Jammu and officers of Rural Development Department for coming forward in creating assets under the convergence mode. (KNS)