Expedite projects, IAP district Collectors told

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has directed the Collectors of 18 districts covered under the Centrally-funded Integrated Action Plan (IAP) to prepare a list of projects worth Rs 20 crore for expeditious implementation. The Centre is providing special financial assistance of Rs 55 crore to each of the IAP districts affected by Left wing extremists to meet the critical gap in the infrastructure sector. Jajpur, Ganjam and Nayagarh districts, included in the programme last year, were sanctioned Rs 30 crore each. In a letter to the collectors of 18 IAP districts, officer on special duty in the Planning and Coordination Department RV Singh asked them to identify projects worth at least Rs 20 crore and initiate steps for their expeditious implementation. The projects approved for implementation should be sent to the Chief Secretary for his perusal and monitoring the progress of implementation. The State has utilised 70 per cent of the Central aid provided in the last financial year to 15 LWE-affected districts. A recent review of the performance of the 18 districts in the utilisation of the special Central assistance by Chief Secretary BK Patnaik revealed that a total of 16,774 projects were taken up under IAP, out of which 9,756 projects were completed.While majority of them are infrastructure projects, 446 are to meet the critical needs of the communities. Of the total projects initiated, 6,618  are connectivity projects, 3,201 school and office buildings, 1,032 irrigation projects, 3,766 drinking water projects and 1,691 rural electrification projects.  The Chief Secretary advised the collectors of the IAP districts to take up projects to meet the critical gaps in public infrastructure. Projects for which fund is available under other schemes should not be included in IAP.