Report by Basant Rath; Nabarangpur: In an important meeting on Friday, the district-level Integrated Action Plan (IAP) committee sanctioned Rs.12 crore to strengthen basic infrastructure in the rural areas of naxal-hit blocks of the district.

Collector Ms. Yamini Sarangi, provided priority in building of village market “Gramya Hat” with sheds, solar power systems in 15 health centres, water tankers, and  godowns in the blocks. She has further asked the departments concerned to implement the projects under IAP to make efforts to complete the works within scheduled time.

Official sources said  in order to promote skilled artisans andfacilitate sale of their handicraft products, ‘Gramya Hat’ (Rural Market) will be constructed in every block of the district and for this Rs 10 lakh has been earmarked for construction of each ‘hat’ will be carried out soon.

With an expenditure of Rs 1 crore, ten dry sheds will be constructed in all  the Maoist infested blocks of Raighar, Umerkote and Jharigam blocks to enable rural farmers to keep their produces safely. Similarly a project for construction of ten godowns in all ten blocks has also been approved for which Rs 1.20 crore will be spent.

For improvement in health sector, solar power systems will be installed in 15 rural health centres by spending around Rs 14 lakh for uninterrupted power supply. Besides, to provide better connectivity, concrete roads will be constructed linking the rural health centres.

Similarly, to solve drinking water problem five water tankers will be provided for people of five blocks for which Rs 40 lakhs will be spent during the current year.

As Maoist-hit areas experience frequent power disruptions, Rs 3.9 crore has been sanctioned under IAP for remedial measures.

The Collector while directing the Lift Irrigation department to assure uninterrupted water supply to farmers, also sectioned Rs.3.7 crore for renovating the 39 defunct lift point projects in the district.

Further to strengthen security in Maoist affected areas it has been decided to construct rural roads on priority basis to improve. Eight ‘common utility centres’ will also be constructed with an expenditure of Rs.40 lakh in Raighar, Umerkote and Jharigam blocks.