Ongoing rural infra projects in Assam to be completed by March 2015

All ongoing rural infrastructure projects in Assam which have the potential to generate income and employment to rural population would be completed by March 2015, said Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi.

Gogoi today reviewed different projects under National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) assisted Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) which are under implementation in Assam.

Gogoi asked the ministers and officials of the concerned departments to complete the ongoing rural infrastructure projects by March 2015. "Rural infrastructure projects, which have been started, must not remain incomplete for want of resources. The ongoing rural infrastructure projects have to be completed on time to generate potential income and employment to rural population," he said.

Gogoi also asked for making a "realistic assessment" of the potential created for generation of income and employment in rural areas.

The chief minister also directed the officials to prepare new innovative projects and submit them for availing NABARD assistance. "Identify new investment opportunities complementary and supplementary that will fuel rural prosperity," he added.

Gogoi said there was need for systematic and sustained monitoring of the projects sanctioned under RIDF with a view to ensuring smooth implementation of projects. "Regular field visits are a must to monitor the progress of projects and to discuss the problems with the field level functionaries," he said.

Gogoi asked the department of agriculture to go in for firm mechanisation in a big way. He also underlined the need for taking up minor irrigation projects in the state.He reviewed the different RIDF projects undertaken by public works department (PWD), water resources, agriculture, animal husbandry and veterinary, fisheries, cooperation and irrigation departments.

The meeting was attended, among others, by minister for planning and development, Tanka Bahadur Rai, minister for agriculture, Nilamani Sen Deka, minister for PWD, Ajanta Neog and minister for animal husbandry and veterinary, Khorsing Engti.