Power to reach 3 remote Kullu villages: Minister

Our Correspondent

Kullu, February 8

Ayurveda and Cooperative Minister Karan Singh said the state government had decided to implement the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in order to accelerate development works in rural areas.

While presiding over the district-level meeting to assess progress in the development works being carried out under the 20-Point Programme at Devsadan in Dhalpur here today, he said the Forest Rights Committees would be able to provide No Objection Certificates (NoCs) for various development jobs and no clearance would be required from the Forest Department for land under one hectare.

He appealed to the officers of the Forest Department and non-government members to apprise the masses of the Forest Right Act and motivate them for the formation of Forest Rights Committees at village and panchayat levels.

He said three remote villages of Shakti, Maror and Shugaad in the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) region would be connected by road, electricity and other basic amenities. He directed the authorities concerned of the Electricity Department to provide electricity in these villages within next six months.

The minister said a sum of over Rs 23.40 crore had been spent under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) for various developmental works in this district during the current fiscal year.

He said 11,607 works had been initiated during the current financial year and 5,873 works had already been accomplished while remaining were under progress.

He said 294 new job cards had been issued this year and a total number of job card bearers was 89,197 in the district. He said 29,866 families were being benefitted from the same.

The minister said the target of construction of 39 km of roads was earmarked under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and 28 km had already been accomplished. He said 161 houses would be constructed under the Indira Awas Yojana.

The minister said the government was prioritising development of the poor and needy and he urged the officials concerned and public representatives to maintain cordial relations to ensure that deserving were benefitted by various schemes laid down by the government.

Kullu ADM Vinay Singh Thakur said developmental works being carried out under the 20-Point Programme would be accomplished on priority and every effort would be made to ensure that the deserving were benefitted through various schemes implemented by the government.