Farmers Movement Archive

Uttar Pradesh govt goes hyper local on development projects

Lucknow: Even as the inauguration of various flagship projects like airports and expressways by PM Narendra Modi hogs all the limelight in poll bound Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government has rolled out a micro-scale development plan straddling as many as 28 districts including 14 in the west UP region. The plan, essentially entailing rapid economic development of hyper-localized areas in the districts, has already received a budgetary push of nearly Rs 60 crore — that too in one go — by the state planning department. The districts where the heavily localised developmental works are proposed to be taken up include Farrukhabad, Aligarh, Shamli, Meerut, Bijnor, Firozabad, Etawah, Bareilly, Hapur, GB Nagar, Etah, Bulandshahr, Mathura, Agra, Basti, Lucknow, Bhadohi, Hardoi, Jaunpur, Unnao, Kanpur (rural), Maharajganj, Chitrakoot, Kanpur, Kaushambi, Gorakhpur and Kushinagar. The budgetary allocation for various districts for the micro-level development ranges from Rs 30 lakh up to Rs 3 crore. Experts said that the idea is to lend a push to small but locally important projects which have a potential to connect with the people according to their need. This, according to officials, includes development of district roads and other civic amenities. As per the series of government orders issued by the state planning department on December 5, the funds will be utilized for the purpose for which they have been released and there should not be any diversion. Authorities will also have to ensure that the projects undertaken are not being covered under any other scheme of the Centre or the state government. Authorities will also be required to get the projects technically examined and all necessary clearances including those pertaining to environmental issues be taken. The move comes amid the ruling BJP stepping up the developmental pitch to counter its political rivals which have been hitting out at the incumbent dispensation over alleged failure on a host of fronts including development. The fast-tracking of localised projects in west UP gains much significance in the wake of recent farmer disquiet over the three farm laws which were later repealed by the Centre.

The Times of India

2021-12-07

Lucknow