Panaji, March 3, 2018 …Â Minister for Rural Development, Housing and Ports, Shri. Jayesh Salgaonkar attended a meeting arranged by the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in New Delhi recently.
Shri Salgaonkar discussed with the Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar about effective implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) and Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana.
Addressing the gathering in the meeting held at Stein Auditorium, Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi which was attended by the Ministers of various states, Mr. Jayesh Salgaonkar discussed about the peculiar topography and demography of the state of Goa and various bottlenecks in smooth implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana such as ownership of lands, objections and rejections by local authorities of the beneficiaries identified by the Government, shortage of Government land, high standard of living in Goa, requirement of conducting a fresh Socio-Economic Caste Census and other issues. Mr. Salgaonkar suggested that the Ministry may consider a special scheme for the state of Goa to meet the needs of houses by relaxing the conditions of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for the state of Goa.
As regards Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (Gramin) Shri Salgaonkar mentioned that the Goan villages are semi-urban in nature and the State Government has made roads covering almost every part of the state. There is however, a need of roads in some pockets in Goan villages but the land owners are reluctant to donate lands. Land acquisition is prolonged process and may not fit in the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. The Minister suggested that the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (Gramin) can be suitably converted for the state of Goa to cover the water ways so that inaccessible villages can be covered through water transport.
Mr. Jayesh Salgaonkar also called on the Officers of the Ministry of Rural Development today in New Delhi and discussed the issues in detail with the attended officers.
