Naveen seeks early sanction of funds for road projects in Naxal areas

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has demanded early sanction of Rs 657 crore for implementing 24 critical road projects in the Naxal infested districts of Malkangiri and Koraput.

The demand was raised by Patnaik during his meeting with Chaudhury Birender Singh, Union minister for rural development, panchayati raj and drinking water & sanitation in New Delhi.

These road projects, as recommended by the home ministry, are to be taken up under Road Requirement Plan Phase-II, covering a distance of 375 km.

Patnaik said that though the Union Cabinet had approved the inclusion of 4035 left out unconnected habitations in the core network under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in February, 2013, the proposal is still pending for approval in the Union ministry.

He urged the Union Minister to approve these 4,035 unconnected habitations early to enable the State Government to prepare and submit Detailed Project Reports (DPR) required for undertaking implementation of the projects.

The chief minister also broached the state government's pending proposal for upgradation of 3,000 km of roads badly damaged by the severe cyclonic storm Phailin in 2013.

The state government's proposal that is already approved by the pre-empowered committee, should be placed before the empowered committee of the Union ministry for sanction at the earliest.

Patnaik mentioned that the state is yet to receive the approved central assistance of Rs 503.74 crore under Indira Awaas Yojana which includes the entitlement under IAY (Normal) Rs.413.98 crore for 2015-16, IAY (Forest Rights Act) Rs 82.91 crore for 2013-14 and IAY (Primitive Tribal Groups) Rs 6.85 crore for 2013-14.