Centre approves water testing lab for Doon

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 24

The Central government has given a go ahead to the state’s proposal for setting up of a water testing laboratory in Dehradun.

This was informed by Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who yesterday met Union Panchayati Raj, Rural Development and Potable Water Minister Birendra Singh in Delhi. The minister informed Harish Rawat that apart from sanctioning of the water testing lab, a fund of Rs 245 crore had been released for the state under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) for the current financial year.

The Chief Minister urged the Union Rural Development Minister for prompt release of funds linked to District Rural Development Authority and Indira Gandhi Awas Yojana. He also demanded release of Rs 44 lakh allotted for 2014-15 for Uttarakhand under the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Empowerment Campaign.

He asked the union minister to include disaster linked rehabilitation works in Uttarakhand under MNREGS. He pointed out that there was already very little employment opportunities left in the disaster-hit areas of the state and thus repair of the damaged houses should also be included under MNREGS works.

The Chief Minister asked the Union Minister to include entire district under the Border Area Grant Fund provided by the Centre rather than limiting it to certain border areas. He said the Centre must come up with a plan ensuring at least a panchayat bhawan for every panchayat that were without an office building.