Ranchi, Aug. 5: Chief minister Arjun Munda has approved projects to the tune of over Rs 12.61 crore for the repair of roads, bridges and culverts and road construction department buildings in Ranchi and Khunti districts, days after loosening purse strings for similar plans in Santhal Pargana.
In Ranchi district, 17 roads passing through various parts of deputy chief minister Sudesh Mahto’s Assembly constituency Silli will be taken up for repair works.
The Ranchi-Muri Road, which leads to Mahto’s home, too will be repaired, while various stretches up to the picturesque Hundru and Jonha waterfalls will get a facelift.
In Khunti, eight important roads, a majority passing through Naxalite strongholds will be repaired. Apart from Khunti-Tamar Road, which demands ordinary repairs, surface renewal of seven roads will be taken up.
The chief minister approved the funds during a meeting in Ranchi on Friday.
On Wednesday, Munda had approved Rs 15 crore for carrying out repairs of roads, bridges and culverts, as well as buildings for the road construction department in various districts of Santhal Pargana.
The chief minister also approved Rs 91.58 crore for rural electrification works and Rs 32 lakh for the Mukyamantri Ladli Laxmi Yojana.
Besides, he approved a proposal to allow representatives from the state to participate in important information technology (IT) seminars and symposiums organised outside Jharkhand.
Munda also cracked his whip on three erring Jharkhand Administrative Service officers.
Block development officer (BDO) of Lapung, Ranchi, Moni Kumar will be denied three annual increments for reported irregularities in construction of check dams under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and dereliction of duty.
Former BDO of Birni block in Giridih district Anwar Hussain will also be denied three annual increments for dereliction of duty.
Meanwhile, departmental proceedings will be initiated against Latehar’s land reforms deputy collector Nagendra Kumar Sinha for alleged irregularities in the capacity of circle officer of Guraru block in Gaya, Bihar.
He is charged with having facilitated irregular settlement of gair majrua land.
Munda also ordered a CID inquiry into illegal felling of trees in Gumla. In 1997, the district’s then deputy commissioner had seized three timber-laden trucks, but no action was taken by the government thereafter.
The chief minister ordered the probe after it was brought to his notice.
In another development, the State Institute of Rural Development signed an MoU with Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences for organising better training programmes and quality research work.
According to the agreement, both organisations will exchange technical expertise.
