Plan panel sending team, Government in a fix

Expressbuzz, Oct 10, 2010
BHUBANESWAR: As the cholera epidemic exposed the severe inadequacy of road networks in the tribal districts of the State, particularly Rayagada and Kalahandi, the State Government has swung into action to correct the situation by expediting works under different schemes.With Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen likely to visit Rayagada district to take stock of the situation, this has put the Government in an embarrassing situation as implementation of different infrastructure schemes has not been up to mark in the tribal districts. Sources said that a high-level team is likely to accompany the member to review the implementation and progress of different welfare programmes in the KBK region. A three-member team from the Centre, which visited Rayagada and Kalahandi districts last month, had also pointed out that inadequate infrastructural facilities, including lack of drinking water in villages, non-existent health services and inadequate road network contributed to a large extent to the spread of the disease in these districts.  Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday reviewed the implementation of different schemes under the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) in the State. Naveen underscored the need for creation of road connectivity to small habitats in the tribal districts. He directed the authorities to construct small bridges and concrete roads across small nullahs which are found in large numbers in the tribal districts. The BRGF is being implemented in 19 districts including Rayagada, Kalahandi and Kandhamal. The scheme was launched in 2006-07 and till now the State has received ` 885.79 cr. Sources said that ` 712.36 cr has been utilised which amounts to 80 per cent. The scheme aims to bridge critical gaps in local infrastructure and other development requirements that are not being adequately met through existing inflows and strengthen panchayat and municipality-level governance with more appropriate capacity-building.