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Bhubaneswar: Panchayati Raj minister Kalpataru Das on Thursday said that the state government has decided to spend about Rs 1870 crore in next three years to build concrete roads in all gram panchayats across Odisha.
“The state government will spend Rs 623.6 crore per annum for next three years for the construction of pucca roads in all gram panchayats. Every gram panchayat will be allocated Rs 10 lakh starting 2013-14,” Panchayati Raj minister Kalpataru Das said.
Around 6,236 gram panchayats across the state will get the benefit, according to Das.
While Rs 2 lakh has already been allocated from the State Finance Commission, the remaining amount would be sanctioned under the new scheme, the minister added.
To involve locals of the respective villages in the construction of roads, the state government has decided to involve village committees in which role of contractors can be minimized.
Under the new scheme, around 48,000 villages, which have not been covered under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and other schemes, will get better connectivity.
The Panchayati Raj department has received 1,81,447 proposals for concrete roads. After finalization of those proposals only the department will give go-ahead to gram panchayats to start road construction work from April 1, the minister added.
The state government will also set up a quality monitoring team which will ensure road work is done as per specifications provided by the state government, said sources.
Commenting on the government’s announcement of the new scheme Panchayati Raj department Secretary Aparajita Sarangi said, “The focus will be on vulnerable tribal areas and SC/ST dominated regions. The details of the work progress will be displayed at public places in the panchayats. Social audit of the work will also be done.”
