Putting the focus on the development of Delhi’s villages, Development Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said that a smart city would not be possible without “smart villages”.
Speaking at the first conference of recently-formed Gramin Vikas Samitis of 365 villages, Mr. Rai said that “traditional and modern” development works will soon be carried out by these committees.
The government had recently revamped the Delhi Rural Development Board, renaming it the Delhi Village Development Board. With the mandate of carrying out works in rural and urbanised villages, the new board had approved 452 projects worth ₹558 crore, said Mr. Rai.
At the conference, which was held to provide training to new members of the committees, Mr. Rai said the board would set up a monitoring committee next year that would comprise 14 members, half of them being women.
Proposals for constructing and repairing roads, ponds, drains, parks, and other infrastructure in villages would be taken up in next meeting, said a government statement.
