Work on 145;model146; villages far from over

The development of villages under the Ambedkar Gram Vikas Yojna as model villages may be high on the state government8217;s priority list.

The development of villages under the Ambedkar Gram Vikas Yojna as model villages may be high on the state government8217;s priority list. But the Department of Panchayati Raj has now decided to conduct review checks of the developmental works undertaken in these villages, which were approved in July.

In its first review in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the department has found that barely 43 per cent of the link roads in the villages have been completed. Around 12 per cent of the roads are nearing completion while work on the rest have not yet started. The department has instructed its officials to get the approved works completed by December 31. 8220;The department has conducted a review of the seven districts of the eastern region. It was found that most of the developmental works were still incomplete,8221; said Ram Bodh Maurya, Director, Department of Panchayati Raj.

Under the scheme, the state government selects the most backward and Dalit-dominated villages in each district, which will be provided with proper link roads, sanitation, water supply, drainage system and good governance. Link roads top the priority list.

8220;In districts like Azamgarh, Pratapgarh, Sonebhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli and Shrawasti we found that the panchayat approved works 8212; includes construction of link roads and drain lines 8212; was still incomplete,8221; said Maurya.

8220;Since most of the work was scheduled under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme NREGS or such other schemes, we found that there was no dearth of labourers but the pace of work was slow,8221; he added.

According to the minister, in Azamgarh it was found that while the model villages, which were lose to the district headquarters, had completed the link road construction, but there were 18 blocks where work was yet to start.

In Mirzapur district, it was found that although there were applications for work under NREGS, the roads were not built with 8220;lack of labourers8221; cited as a cause.