-The Times of India Ranchi/ BOKARO: Maoist activities and presence of a number of splinter groups are deterring construction of new roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the hinterland. Sources in the Jharkhand State Rural Road Development Authority (JSRRDA) said construction of a number of roads under the central scheme has either not started or has stopped due to Maoist problem. There are many places in Latehar, Gumla and...

-The Times of India LUCKNOW: The 'schemes of the rural development department, riding on crores, will go for a proper audit now. The government is willing to bring the schemes under the lens, and if the need be, to also write to the centre to let the social audit directorate set up for monitoring the implementation of MGNREGA, expand its role in assessing the performance of schemes like IAY and PMGSY...

-Live Mint Proposal aimed at beefing up security, besides making sure development reaches neglected parts of India A day after the government pledged the partial decontrol of sugar in the next fortnight, the Union cabinet on Thursday approved a set of significant measures aimed at tackling Maoist insurgency and asserting its strategic hold over an area claimed by neighbouring China.   The measures approved involve upgrading rural road connectivity with special emphasis on...

-The Times of India PATNA: The central construction agencies have failed the state once again insofar as the completion of rural road projects is concerned. Rural works department (RWD) minister Bhim Singh, who visited 12 districts to review the progress, lamented, "They have displayed their inefficiency by not constructing the roads they had been allotted." Singh called the representatives of five central agencies and strictly told them to complete the projects by...

-Down to Earth MoEF waives requirement of obtaining gram sabha certificates for linear projects. Will it dilute forest rights of people? Gram sabhas or village councils will no longer have the power to reject building of roads, railways, transmission lines or other such linear projects. The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), on February 5, exempted developers of such projects from the requirement to obtain  consent of the gram sabhas to...