The Hindu - Kerala 15.08.2009
Nod for 1,670 projects of local bodies
Staff Reporter
Thrissur: A meeting of the District Planning Committee (DPC) held here on Friday approved development projects submitted by the local bodies. In all, 1,670 development projects with an outlay of Rs.62.13 crore were approved to be implemented by 15 local bodies in the district during 2009-2010.
The committee chaired by district panchayat president Ambadi Venu withheld approval of some of the projects, which did not comply with the guidelines given by the government. The committee asked the local bodies to re-submit those projects with necessary changes. Development projects submitted by nine grama panchayats (Vallachira, Thiruvilwamala, Vallathol Nagar, Chelakkara, Edathuruthy, S. N. Puram, Perinjanam, Mathilakam and Kaipamangalam), four block panchayats (Kodungallur, Cherpu, Mathilakam, and Anthikkad) and two municipalities (Chalakkudy and Irinjalakkuda) were sanctioned by the DPC.
Of the total outlay of Rs.62.13 crore, around Rs.21.57 crore will be from the Plan fund and the rest from the local bodies’ own fund and beneficiary contributions. Some of the projects discussed by the committee in detail were regarding improvements in noon-meal scheme and providing transportation facilities for girl students belonging to the Scheduled Caste communities.
A project submitted by Perinjanam panchayat sought permission to provide additional nutritious food for school students in addition to rice and green gram distributed the by the government. S.N. Puram panchayat sought permission to provide bicycles for girl students
belonging the Scheduled Castes.
The committee observed that such schemes should be part of general education development projects and needed more discussion.
District planning officer P.P. Johny, expert committee member M.N. Sudhakaran, district panchayat vice-president T.R. Ramesh Kumar, council members and local body leaders participated.
