The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Separate department to expedite work on roads

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Tuesday, Jun 16, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Separate department to expedite work on roads

Special Correspondent

Only 38,000 km out of 1,27,000 km of roads in villages black-topped so far
Village in plains with population of 500 eligible for black-topped roads

HYDERABAD: Panchayat Raj Minister Botcha Satyanarayana here on Monday announced that a separate department would be formed in Panchayat Raj Department with adequate number of engineers to expedite the programme of providing roads to villages under Prime Minister Sadak Rozgar Yojana.

The new department will be headed by a chief engineer at State level and executive engineers at revenue division level.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with engineers of his department and leaders of various service organisations, the Minister said the a new department had been envisaged since only 38,000 km length out of 1,27,000 km of roads in villages was black-topped so far. At the same time, a quality wing would be created headed by a chief engineer to ensure quality in works executed relating to roads.

He said seniority lists of Panchayat Raj engineers would be prepared by July 1 for transfers, promotions and internal adjustments. A site would be allotted shortly for construction of an association building to provide accommodation to engineers during their stay in the city.

He said a village in plains with a population of 500 and 250 in a scheduled area are now eligible to get black-topped roads under the scheme following relaxation of the population limits. The lists of villages following this change would be prepared in a month and their needs prioritised.

He said there was no shortage of staff in Panchayat Raj Department in spite of deputation of as many as 650 engineers from it to other departments.

He said plans had been drawn up to spend Rs. 1,000 crore this year under NABARD schemes so that the State would be eligible to get double this sum next year as under the rules.

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