BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday urged the Centre to sanction funds to the tune of Rs. 1,200 crore towards additional roadworks in nine of the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) districts. Of the 15 districts under coverage of IAP, nine have extremely limited road connectivity for which the additional assistance was sought by Naveen during his meeting with Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh in Delhi. Naveen emphasised on the State’s need to improve road network in the Maoist-affected districts and submitted a slew of proposals in this regard. Since the State is undertaking restoration work on a war-footing following the massive damage caused by the floods, the Chief Minister said, timely assistance by the Centre is needed. The flood damage is estimated at Rs. 3,265 crore. Naveen also requested that, in addition to the ADB-assisted projects, the Ministry should accept Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for Rs. 1,000 crore for roads to unconnected habitations in non-IAP districts. Similarly, DPRs upgrading rural roads measuring 3,000 km of the Core Network under Bharat Nirman be entertained by the Centre. Ramesh agreed to consider the proposal for additional road works in the nine IAP districts and said the State must submit the proposal for the new road works at the earliest. The Ministry, he said, was willing to consider additional proposals in respect of non-IAP districts, including connection to habitations with population between 800 and 999. The DPRs received from the State for new works in non-IAP districts will be dealt with on a priority basis, he said. During the meeting, Naveen also sought approval for additional annual financial allocation of Rs. 46.70 crore towards additional costs associated with the process of Social Audit under MGNREGS. He also proposed that the Ministry must allow an administrative expenditure of at least 9 per cent for the proposed reforms under MGNREGS. Ramesh said that 8,000 hand held devices had already been provided and another 2,000 were on their way to enable the State Government to take up the Socio-economic and Caste Census-2011. The Ministry, he said, is willing to consider houses under Indira Awas Yojana for all families affected by Maoist violence in any form, irrespective of their status as BPL or APL.
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