Centre fixes Rs 4,600 cr target under NREGS

The Centre has fixed a target of Rs 4,600 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for 2010-11, a growth of close to double the amount spent during 2009-10. This year, the state has spent Rs 2,350 crore under the scheme, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said.

“The Centre has appreciated the works of state government under the MGNREGS during the last two years. For the next fiscal, we can spend up to Rs 4,600 crore under the scheme. So, we are planning to take up construction of check dams for increasing the availability of water in rural areas and build houses under the Ashraya housing scheme, dredging of lakes and water bodies will be taken up next fiscal,” he said.

He said a meeting of all ministers and secretaries will be held today to discuss and chalk out programmes for the next fiscal.

Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting here today, Yeddyurappa said the government has decided to purchase 300 Mw of power from cogeneration sugar mills in the state to tide over the shortage of power during the summer months. The state government is committed to supplying power as per the schedule announced earlier, he said.

He said he would lead a delegation from the state to meet the railway minister Mamata Banerjee soon to discuss with her about various railway projects pending in the state. “We are ready to bear 50 per cent of the cost for joint railway projects pending in the state. We will request the railway minister to take up the projects on priority in the state,” he said.

The state industries department will hold a roadshow in Mumbai on April 1, 2010 for the proposed global investors’ meet scheduled be held on June 3 and 4 in Bangalore. The roadshow will focus on the investment opportunities available in the state, he said.