TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The government’s ambitious programme of providing grants for creating infrastructure at various panchayats has been enhanced to Rs 1.50 crore from the existing limit of Rs 1 crore.
The cabinet approval on Friday comes after nearly all the village panchayats that applied for the financial benefit submitted proposals exceeding Rs 1 crore in estimated costs.
“The minimum amount continues at Rs 20 lakh while the upper ceiling has been raised to Rs 1.50 crore. All the 44 applications received by Panchayats (department) had estimates above Rs 1 crore and as such, sanction letters remained pending, 22 proposals are now cleared,” Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said following a cabinet meeting.
He conceded that not a single project had taken off, however with the fresh decision at least 5 or 6 developmental works will begin under the scheme.
He explained that under this scheme panchayats can take up works like construction of panchayat ghar, market complex and other infrastructure-related projects. “Goa State Infrastructure Development will execute the work. Funds for panchayats will be released in three installments and the initial installment is at 30 percent,” he said.
The State government, under the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had launched the scheme on October 25, 2013 providing financial help to panchayats to create durable infrastructure. All 190 panchayats are eligible for the non-refundable grant. On day one of the scheme, the government had distributed about 10 to 15 sanction letters.
