Bidar: The district will seek Rs. 125.85 crore under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for the coming year.

"We have already sent a proposal to the State Government to this effect," zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer Jitendra Nayak said in Bidar on Friday. He was speaking at the Karnataka Development Project review meeting.

Project Director S.G. Korwar said the district had received Rs. 29 crore under the project in 2006-07. Of this, Rs. 21 crore had been spent. "We have achieved 61 per cent progress and are confident of utilising the full grant by the end of the financial year on March 31," he said.

Range of projects

Under the NREGS, the zilla panchayat had taken up works for water conservation, rainwater harvesting, drought relief, afforestation, building irrigation canals, providing micro irrigation, land reforms for Indira Awas Yojana beneficiaries, rejuvenation of traditional water bodies, land development, development of nurseries, flood control and protection from floods, and providing rural connectivity by roads.

"Next year, more such works will be taken up in more villages and more labourers will get work," he said.

"We are hopeful of providing assured employment of 100 days to at least 1.12 lakh rural households next year. We need Rs. 125.85 crore for this purpose. This was estimated as part of the labour budget prepared by the zilla panchayat," Mr. Korwar said.

As much as 90 per cent of the funds for projects under the NREGS came from the Centre and the rest was given by State Government,

Directed

Mr. Korwar said. Zilla panchayat president Anil Bhusare directed officials to ensure that all willing labourers in the district got 100 days employment before March this year.

He also asked them to submit a plan proposal for 25 per cent of the next year's plan by April first week. He also asked them to start works by the second week of April.

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