Centre Reviews Rs 82,000 Crore Projects, Announces Multi-Sector Development Push for West Bengal

New Delhi, Jul 15 (KNN) Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and senior officials to review infrastructure, rural development and agriculture projects in the state.

The meeting reviewed 19 infrastructure projects worth over Rs 82,000 crore across sectors including roads, railways, metro, petroleum and natural gas, coal and labour. 

Discussions focused on resolving issues related to land acquisition, rehabilitation, forest clearances, utility shifting and inter-departmental coordination to expedite project implementation. Chouhan also proposed setting up a State-level Project Monitoring Group (PMG) to improve project monitoring and coordination.

The Centre approved Rs 8,508 crore for rural development programmes in West Bengal, which, along with the state's contribution, will take the total allocation to more than Rs 12,064 crore until March 31. 

The funds will be utilised through Panchayats for employment generation and rural infrastructure under the VB-G RAM G framework.

The Minister also announced interim approval for one lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) in West Bengal. The deadline for beneficiary surveys has been extended until August 15 due to delays caused by heavy rainfall.

Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, the Centre announced a Rs 295 crore support package for women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs), comprising Rs 245 crore in bank credit and Rs 50 crore under the Community Investment Fund.

In the agriculture sector, Chouhan announced that Malda will be integrated into the national Clean Plant Programme through a proposed Clean Plant Facility for producing disease-free planting material for fruit crops. He also announced initiatives to develop West Bengal as the Seed Hub of Eastern India, strengthen rice and maize value chains, and promote orchid cultivation and horticulture.

The Minister said the Centre will expand the coverage of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme in the state through village-level enrolment camps in collaboration with NABARD and banks.

(KNN Bureau)