Date:08/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/08/stories/2009010851650300.htm

Other States - Orissa

Minister reviews progress of rural development projects

Staff Reporter

— Photo: Lingaraj Panda

STOCK-TAKING: Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chandrasekhar Sahu (left) reviewing the progress of works in Berhampur on Wednesday.

BERHAMPUR: Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chandrasekhar Sahu reviewed the progress of various rural development projects in Ganjam and Gajapati districts of south Orissa on Wednesday. The review meeting was held in the conference hall of the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division, Styabrata Sahu. Ganjam District Collector V.K. Pandian, Gajapati Collector D.V. Swami and other officials of these two districts took part in the meeting.

There was more focus on the rural electrification projects being taken up in these two districts under the Biju Gramin Jyoti Yojna (BGJY) of the State government and Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGGVY). Under these projects, electricity connection is to be provided to villages and hamlets without electricity and de-electrified villages. The Minister and the RDC expressed their concern over the delay in implementation of RGGVY projects. The Union Minister asked the district authorities to complete the projects proposed under RGGVY by March 2009 so that the money sanctioned for them from the Centre did not get returned. The problem of transportation of poles needed for electrification to remote areas was also a point of discussion.

Community toilets

There were also discussions about other rural development projects.

It was decided to install 500 community toilets in rural areas of both these districts. Each of these toilets with adequate water supply facility would be built up at a cost of Rs. 3.11 lakhs.

Later, speaking to newsmen, the RDC said he decided to convene a meeting of ten collectors of south Orissa on January 19 to discuss the progress of BGJY and RGGVY. The meeting would also be attended by State Energy Minister Suryanarayan Patro and State energy secretary.