Madikeri: A sum of Rs. 3.42 crores has been spent in Kodagu under Swacha Grama Yojna (SGY) in the first phase to ensure sanitation in 20 villages, according to information received here on Wednesday.

The State Government has released Rs. 3.71 crores for the purpose. The objective of the yojna is to improve the quality of life in rural areas by implementing the five-point agenda of the Government. The yojna provides for improving interior roads, constructing drainages, shifting garbage dumping yards to outskirts and converting them into community compost dumping yards, construction of community toilets and toilets in households and schools, and providing smokeless "choolast" to households in the selected villages.

The programme involves an expenditure of Rs. 260 crores across the State, covering 1,300 villages in the first phase and another 1,000 in the second phase. The Government will borrow funds from HUDCO through the Karnataka Land Army Corporation and contributes 10 per cent of the total funds apart from collecting 10 per cent of funds from the community involved in the villages.

The villages have contributed Rs. 2 lakhs each in the first phase and Rs. 1 lakh in the second phase. In Kodagu, Rs. 38.50 lakhs has been collected - Rs. 2 lakhs from each of the 20 villages selected in the first phase. Some villages have contributed material in lieu of cash. The villages covered in Madikeri taluk in the first phase where works have been almost complete are Kantur-Murnad, Koinad, Bengur and K. Nidugane. Villages in Somwarpet taluk are Kushalnagar, Horur-Modur and Koodlur, and Gonicoppa, Hudikeri, Hysodlur, Konageri, Nittur, K. Badaga, Halugunda `A' Block, Byrambada, Kuttandi, Hosur, Karadigod, Mekur-Hoskeri and Balugodu in Virajpet taluk.

In the second phase, the Government has released Rs. 33 lakhs to develop 10 villages in the district. It includes Rs. 10 lakhs collected from the people (Rs. 1 lakh each) apart from Rs. 23 lakhs from the Government.

A sum of Rs. 3.30 lakhs has been released to each of the 10 villages, which, however, are yet to be spent.

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