Jammu, Apr 19: Asking the officers to gear up for the Panchayati elections, Minister for Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Muhammad Sagar today said that within months Panchayats would be in place.
 He said the Panchayats would help ensure proper utilization of funds for massive development of rural landscape.
 The Minister, according to an official statement, was addressing a review meeting of the officers of Rural Development Department of Jammu division, which was also attended by Commissioner/Secretary, Rural Development Department, Umang Narulla, Director Rural Development Jammu,   M. Y. Zargar, Assistant Commissioners, Development of Jammu division and other senior officers.
 Sagar said that the wage budget for MG NREGA has been allocated by the Centre to the tune of Rs 560 crore to J&K.
 “It is heartening to know that Rs 139 crore have been spent in Jammu division, thereby registering 95 percent utilization of the funds earmarked for the scheme,” he maintained.
 He said that 13927 works have been completed under the scheme and asked the officers to speed up the pace of work and also ensure that the funds earmarked are properly utilized and the benefit reaches the targeted populace.
 The Minister stated that the Centre has increased the amount of assistance being provided under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) from Rs 35000 to 48500.
 He directed the officers to maintain utmost care while preparing the list of the beneficiaries to be covered under the scheme.
 Sagar, while complementing the officers, for taking measures to ensure maximum utilization of funds, said that strict action would be taken against those whose performance remains poor, resulting in under-utilization of the funds. He directed the Commissioner/Secretary to initiate necessary action against such erring officers.
 The meeting was told that an amount of Rs 66.59 crore has been spent on 58 model villages, being undertaken under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan. Similarly, an amount of Rs 22.72 crore have been expended on 9408 houses undertaken under IAY in Jammu division up to March.
 It was also stated that Rs 6.23 crore have been incurred on assisting 3921 Swarozgaries under Swaran Jayanti Gram Rozgar Yojana. Besides, an amount of Rs 3.5 crore has been spent under IWDP Haryali on 6525 hectares of land.
 The Minister earlier inspected the work on the Panchayat Ghar at Rail Head Complex, Jammu and directed the officers to speed up the work on the same.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST