Haryana Top User Of Rural Funds

Haryana ranked first in the utilisation of central funds allocated under various rural development schemes during 2001-02.

The state used Rs 93.12 crore out of the total allocation of Rs 106.21 crore, clocking 87.67 per cent funds utilisation during the year, said Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala here yesterday citing the finance performance report of the Union rural development ministry.

Haryana had ranked second after Tamil Nadu in the implementation of rural development schemes during 2000-01.

Chautala also announced a number of decisions to strengthen the infrastructure in rural and urban areas.

He said cities would be beautified and "transport nagars" would be shifted outside the municipal limits of the urban areas to ease traffic congestion.

He said rural roads would be improved and village chaupals would repaired.

On the poor wastewater management in rural areas, the chief minister said the gram vikas samitis would be allowed to take up projects for drainage of water from the village out of the savings made by them while completing development projects under the Sarkar Aapke Dwar programme.

The chief minister asked the officials to remove encroachments and plant trees on those land. He said the state government would construct places for the senior citizens' benefit.

He said the government would use Rs 4.75 crore under the Swaran Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana and Rs 2.89 crore under the Indira Awas Yojana for construction of houses for the poor.

Chautala said farmers were being encouraged to diversify their crops and take up some other ventures to supplement their income.

Chautala asked the irrigation department to take effective flood control measures as the state was still recovering from the damage caused by the floods in 1995.