MGNREGA funds received, all wages to be released by Tuesday

We have received Rs 44 crores in two allotments this week from Panchayat Department and have started releasing to PIAs who submitted their proposals to NREGA cell and whose MIS is at least 80 percent. In view of Eid and other festival season, payments of wages must be done immediately by all GPs without further delay. This year, Burdwan generated record number of man days in last four months, exceeding the Quarterly Labour Budget and slow release of funds from the GOI and State created a situation of delay payments in few cases forcing PIAs to resort to delay payments beyond a fortnight, which is violation of the rules. So, it is the duty of all PIAs/ GPs to make payments at once.

As per our assessment, we generated Rs 128 lakhs man days till 31st July which may be approximately 150 lakhs man days by now considering the requirement of funds from PIAs submitted to NREGA cell. That means, the expenditure incurred up to 31st July 2012 Rs 220 crores may exceed Rs 260 crores by now. We are releasing Rs 45 crores against approximate demand of Rs 60 crores. So, the expenditure up to 31st August 2012 may go up to Rs 280 crores and man days 155 crores.

No district in eastern India could achieve such man days creation and expenditure.

Now, in order to ensure transparency and quality of the works executed, all PIAs have been instructed to physically verify all the assets created, take photograph of the asset, complete measurement and closure of the works with completion certificate submitted to BDOs by the middle of September 2012. Copy of muster rolls must be kept in local public library for free access to readers. No funds shall be released to PIAs who have not followed the instructions.

100 percent inspection of all works has to be done from the end of Blocks and irregularities if any must be removed.

Multi Sectoral Development Programme for minorities (MsDP) - National workshop on review of guidelines, experienced DMs invited

Govt of India sponsored MsDP has been very successfully implemented in West Bengal in general and Burdwan in particular fully utilising Rs. 49 crores sanctioned to the district. Adviser to PM visited the completed projects in Burdwan district last year and lauded our performance and utility of assets created.

Now, MsDP funding in next five year plan starts from 2012-13 and GOI has rightly decided to organise National workshop to review the norms, permissible schemes and guidelines for overall development of minority dominated areas in the country. Apart from Departmental Secretaries from all the States of the country, one experienced District Magistrate/ Collector having experience of implementing the MsDP in the field has been invited from each state. I have been nominated by State Govt to attend the workshop and to share rich experiences of successfully implementing the minority development projects/ schemes. Workshop is scheduled to be held on 16th August 2012 at 10.30 hrs at New Delhi.

We have been allocated additional Rs 30 crores under MsDP out of unspent budget of the ministry. Schemes have already been sent for approval. We have proposed Piped Water Supply Schemes (10 numbers) in Arsenic affected blocks, two ITIs at Mangalkote and Ketugram, Classrooms in HIgher Secondary Schools/ High Madrasahs, ICDS centre buildings and KisanMandi Bazar with total estimated projects of Rs 40 crores.

Some photo of Burdwan function of Hon'ble CM West Bengal on 28th July 2012

DVC releases 50000 Cusec from Panchet - impact in Burdwan tomorrow morning

Rainfall has been very scanty and poor till last week of July, delaying paddy transplantation in the district. Now, with heavy rainfall noticed for last one week, more so in upper catchment of River Damodar, DVC authorities has decided to release the excess water @ 50000 cu sec starting from midnight this day and will continue till the water level in dams is within the standard levels during the August season. We don't apprehend any floods with this level but river level will increase and might cause water logging in low lying areas. All concerned have been alerted. It has been ensured that all water releases from dams to be done in such a timings that its impact in the lower areas of Burdwan Sadar, Arambagh, Uluberia Sub divisions is felt during the day hours, not the night hours so as to avoid any damage.

• Reviewed the flood management with all departments of the Govt on 13th August and also issued instructions for precautionary measures. It is so unfortunate to allow drain of water from dams, which could have been used for Boro Irrigation later. But, technical protocol has to be followed by DVC. There are plans to increase the capacity of DVC dams and it is hoped that once this is done, more water resources could be used for useful purpose, instead of draining the excess water on its way to the sea.
• Paddy transplant is above 85 percent now in Burdwan district facilitated by DVC canal release from 25th July and good rains last fortnight. Minor irrigation facilities kept on standby in case of any shortfall of rains in September 2012. We hope to get bumper crop this year, like previous years.
• Food Officials will organise special camps for facilitating zero balance bank accounts to farmers to facilitate paddy procurement at minimum support price in next Kharif season starting from October 2012. Such camps to be held at court premises at all Sub divisions from first week of September 2012 and continue for whole September month. All banks agreed in a meeting to extend their cooperation to farmers.
• Additional go down space has been arranged by district authority to store 1.05 Lakhs MT rice in State Go downs in addition to more than 60000 MT available with FCI. Nine Permanent go downs of 45000 MT capacity to be constructed under RIDF funds sanctioned by NABARD.

Sub divisional level meeting with All Schools to be held from 16th August to review Educational Schemes

District administration Burdwan started the system of Meetings with heads of schools at Sub division level from 2012-13 session with first rounds of review meetings held in April-May 2012. In these meetings detailed review on Sarva Siksha Mission, Right to Education Act, Mid Day Meal, Educational grants to students of ST, SC, OBC and minorities, Computerisation of schools and development schemes to education sector were discussed thoroughly. We got very good response from schools and looking forward for regular meetings which have been mutually helpful to all.

Next round of meetings will be start from 16th August 2012 at Asansol and ends on 24th August 2012 covering one day at each Sub divisional HQ.

16th August Asansol, 17th Durgapur, 22nd Sadar, 23rd Kalna and 24th Katwa are the dates.

All Schools, Officers of Education, Mid day meal, Minority, BCW and SSK/MSK at block and district level will attend the day long meeting. MLAs, Sabhapaties, BDOs, SDOs and Municipal authorities of the concerned Subdivisions have also been invited.