Karnataka

Civic works for Tuticorin villages

Tuticorin: In an effort to improve rural infrastructure in the district, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) will create community assets and improve basic amenities on a total outlay of Rs. 16.2 crore in select 81 village panchayats during this financial year.

According to official sources, the amount, allocated under Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam (AGAMT), will be utilised at the rate of Rs. 20 lakh a village panchayat.

The projects grouped under the heads of ‘compulsory works’ and ‘optional works’ would be taken up in each of the village panchayats as per ‘revised guidelines’ issued by the government for the scheme for 2008-09.

Under ‘compulsory work’ component, either a pond or an irrigation tank would be established at all the village panchayats at a minimum cost of Rs. 3 lakh and not exceeding Rs. 5 lakh.

The cost would cover establishment of tank with a bathing ghat and desilting of inlet and outlet channels.

“The revised guidelines stipulate a minimum depth of two metre for every pond to ensure substantial retention of water,” the DRDA sources said. Likewise, either a school sports centre or a community sports centre, library, burial ground and water supply facility would be established in each of the village panchayats.

Under the ‘optional work’ component, cement concrete pavements, streetlights and fish ponds would be set up as per need.

For establishment of streetlights (fluorescent tubelights), preference would be given to totally uncovered habitations or streets.

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