To revive the rural economy after the lockdown by providing jobs, the State government has decided to develop 5,612 km of rural roads, on an estimated budget of ₹2,729 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Out of the allocation, the Centre and the State will incur an expenditure of ₹1,274 crore and ₹1,455 crore ,respectively. A sum of ₹1,100 crore has already been released and tenders have been called for developing rural roads.
A sum of ₹1 crore each has been released to 49 drought-hit taluks of the State for providing drinking water. A sum of ₹50 lakh each has been released to 127 taluks not hit by drought, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa said.
Referring to jobs under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, he said the Centre had released ₹1,039 crore for providing wages and ₹821 crore for supplying materials. Wage under the jobs scheme has been increased to ₹275 a day. Wages will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries within 15 days of work. Wearing masks during work has been made mandatory for MGNREGA beneficiaries, he said.
