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Himachal seeks revival of funding

By Our Staff Correspondent

SHIMLA, JAN. 4. The Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, said today that the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) programme, which was the main source for funding for MLAs, was discontinued by the previous NDA Government. He said with the coming of UPA Government at the Centre, the matter was taken up by the State Government for revival of IRDF Programme. The Government of India has announced revival of it in the Union budget this year by discontinuing AICF programme started by the NDA Government in the interim budget, he added.

Interacting with the MLAs on the plan discussion for the year 2005-06 here, he said under RIDF programme various roads and bridges, water supply schemes, construction of school buildings, minor irrigation projects and public health institutions and could be funded through NABARD assistance. He further said that the schemes which were prioritized by the MLAs during 2003-04 could not be posed to NABARD for sanctioning due to introduction of AICF programme. He said the Government has now decided to pose all pending priorities of 2003-04 of MLAs to RIDF-X during 2004-05 besides posing the new priorities.

The Chief Minister said the Government has succeeded in including Chamba and Sirmaur districts under Rashtriya Sum Vikas Yojna (RSVY) started by the Centre for speedy development of 132 most backward districts of the country. He said under this programme each district would get additional central assistance of Rs. 45 crore at the rate of Rs. 15 crore per annum for three years. He said the State Government has requested the Centre to expand this programme to cover more districts.

Mr. Virbhadra Singh also exhorted all Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments that they should formulate the resource mobilisation strategy for their sectors and also cut down the wasteful expenditure. He said the strategy should include additional resources mobilisation through externally-aided projects and exploring the areas of additional centrally-sponsored schemes, central sector programme for the State.

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Himachal seeks revival of funding

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