Seeking to intensify the pace of the Integrated Action Plan (IAP),the Planning Commission on Wednesday asked the collectors of 60 Naxal-affected districts to ensure timely execution of the works and to be more innovative in implementing area-specific programmes. In a video conference involving secretaries of states and district magistrates,Member Secretary Sudha Pillai said the government had approved 71,500 projects in December,of which 49,966 were at various stages of implementation. Of the money sanctioned,about 47 per cent has been utilised. The approach we have taken for IAP works is different from what we have taken for Centrally-sponsored schemes. We have fast-tracked the IAP projects. An amount of Rs 30 crore has been approved this year for each district and the Comptroller and Auditor General has been asked to assess the works executed and the expenditure incurred, Pillai said. Expressing concern over the poor telecom connectivity in the densely-forested areas of Chhattisgarh,Pillai asked the DMs to take the lead in talking to telecom firms to set up mobile towers. The commission is awaiting the Telecom Ministrys fresh push to the Universal Service Obligation Fund,which has been in vogue to support access to telegraph services to people in remote areas at affordable and reasonable prices. She said Sonebhadra district of UP has executed 1,548 works so far,while Bengals West Midnapore district administration has executed 416 works out of 643 sanctioned ones.
