Rural ministry to provide 14,000 more dwelling units in Uttarakhand

The union rural development ministry will aid Uttarakhand's rehabilitation effort by offering a special package that would aid in the construction of an additional 14,000 houses, union minister Jairam Ramesh has said.

In a letter to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said the state was allocated 14,012 housing units under Indira Awaz Yojna, for which central allocation was pegged at Rs.78.82 crore for this fiscal.

"We could consider a special package under the IAY (Indira Awas Yojna) for Uttarakhand, which would involve additional 14,000 units... I would request specific proposals from the state and I assure of our fullest and speedy cooperation," Ramesh said in the letter.

He said the Empowered Committee on the Prime Minister's Gram Sadak Youjna (village roads project) had cleared the proposal for 82 roads and 27 bridges covering 675 km and valued at Rs.336 crore.

The decision to consider enhancing allocation of housing units and construction of roads is besides the Rs 336 crore allocated under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (Prime Minister's village roads project, PMGSY).

Ramesh said considering the "extraordinary situation" in the state, the ministry is making an "additional" offer to the state over and above these proposals that have been cleared under the PMGSY.

"We would be prepared to consider and clear additional proposals for upgrading of such through routes not covered under PMGSY in Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts," he said.

The minister said some areas of Pauri Garhwal district may also need upgrading, and these could also be included in this scheme.