Over 7000 works to be carried out at a cost of Rs.56.32 crore in Tuticorin

Collector R. Palaniyandi has said that the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) would execute 7,308 infrastructure development works on a total outlay of Rs.56.32 crore in the district during this financial year.

Speaking to reporters at the grievance day meeting in Tuticorin Collectorate on Monday, he said that of the total allocation, Rs.14.75 crore earmarked under Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana would be utilised to provide additional employment in rural areas as also food security, alongside creation of durable community, social and economic infrastructure.

Under the scheme, anganwadi buildings, bus shelters, causeways, cremation sheds, retaining walls, concrete roads, water bound macadam roads, drainage facilities, drinking water supply and buildings for Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets would be established.

A total of 2,376 houses would be constructed and 528 kuchha houses would be upgraded under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) at a total cost of Rs.9.45 crore for people from SC/ST community, freed bonded labourers and non SC/ST persons living below the poverty line. Of the total allocation under IAY for the fiscal, 40 per cent would be used towards construction of dwelling units for beneficiaries from non SC/ST category.

He said that sanitation facilities in mofussil areas would be enhanced at a cost of Rs.19.7 lakh under Restructured Central Rural Sanitation Programme. As part of the project, individual household latrines, school toilets, community sanitary complexes and anganwadi toilets would be set up at 55 places. The remaining amount (of the total outlay) would be used to establish biogas units, free houses for beedi workers, street lights and community centres.

Later, he gave away a solatium of Rs.1.45 lakh to the kin of K. Murugesh Kumar, who died in harness while employed as a supervisor at TASMC outlet situated at Seidunganallur near here recently. Likewise, the Collector distributed an accident relief of Rs.84,209 to another TASMAC employee, K. Balamurugan, who was injured in an accident recently.