The Hindu Business Line : 1,098 km of rural roads to be developed in Kerala

It is the responsibility of the district and block panchayats to make available the required land for developing the roads with a width of eight metres.

Thiruvananthapuram , Aug. 28

Rural roads of a total length of 1,098 kilometres in Kerala will be taken up for developmental works under the Prime Minister's Gramin Sadak Yojana scheme during the current year.

According to Mr A. Shajahan, Rural Development Commissioner, the State Government has directed the district and block panchayats to submit detailed project reports for the purpose.

This apart, rural roads of a total of 525 km would be taken up for developmental works under the same scheme next year, he said.

Mr Shajahan said that the work would entail an expenditure of Rs 30 lakh per kilometre and the entire project would be implemented with Central assistance.

The block panchayats would be required to select the roads for development under the scheme on a priority basis from the core network (mapping of rural roads). He said that the Centre would grant the funds for the work on the basis of project proposals submitted by the State Governments.

It is the responsibility of the district and block panchayats to make available the required land for developing the roads with a width of eight metres as mandated by the Rural Road Manual approved by the Indian Road Congress, he added.

Bonus for PSU staff

Employees of profit-making public sector undertakings, under the Industries Department, will get 20 per cent bonus in connection with the Onam festival. The Industries Minister, Mr Elamaram Kareem, said that the employees of loss-making enterprises would get bonus at the rate of 8.33 per cent.

Those employees who are drawing wages above the upper limit fixed for bonus purpose, as also those who had been working in units that were closed down, would get a festival grant of Rs 1,000 each, the Minister said.

At a function organised by the Khadi and Rural Industries Board and Hanveev, Mr Kareem said that the Government would formulate a strategy for selling the products of the traditional sector both in the domestic and overseas markets.

Exporters' meet

As part of this, a meeting of leading exporters would be held in Kochi on August 31, he said. In an effort to find market for handloom textiles, the Government would make it compulsory for school students to wear handloom dresses once in week from the next academic year onwards, he said.

More Stories on : Roadways | Rural Development | Kerala

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1,098 km of rural roads to be developed in Kerala