Bhubaneswar: In a bid to take development activities to next level, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra Wednesday asked the Collectors to prepare district-specific innovative projects for the development of infrastructure and improvement of livelihood of the people.
Holding a meeting with the district Collectors through videoconferencing, Mahapatra said, “Prepare innovative projects based on the potential of your district for elevating people to the height of a surplus level of living.”
Now, he said, the coverage of the schemes focused on necessities like food, water, housing, road and electricity have expanded considerably towards saturation.
Therefore, the districts should plan for achieving the next higher stage of development, he said. “It will be possible with identification of district-wise potential in terms of the agro-climatic zone, natural and human resources and by moulding those to define projects for harnessing the opportunities,” he added.
Further, the Collectors were instructed to identify missing links in matters like all-weather connectivity to all the villages, irrigation for more than one crop, livelihood enhancement, crop diversification, agricultural marketing, escalation of income generation, pipe water supply, an extension of health services and intensification of economic activities.
They were also directed to expedite implementation of infrastructure projects through proactive action for forest clearance, tree felling permission, issuing of no objection certificates, land acquisition etc. Development Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Jena, who also participated in the meet, advised the Collectors to find missing links in different infrastructure and livelihood schemes on the basis of objective criteria like non-availability of alternatives, additional advantage of the proposed work in terms of enhancing productivity, saving cost and time.
While expediting infrastructure projects, the Collectors were instructed to look at both the government projects and the projects being undertaken by private investors. “Assess your present state of development and define the target you fix for your district in terms of short, medium and long term objectives,” Jena added.
Agriculture Production Commissioner Raj Kumar Sharma said the primary sector (agriculture and allied activities) provides livelihood and employment to more than 50 per cent of the rural population. So, the interventions in this sector will have direct benefit to the people. He advised the Collectors to spend some more time with agriculture, soil conservation, horticulture and irrigation officers for formulation of innovative projects.
The Chief Secretary assured that government would provide all support including finance for potential based innovative projects in each district. Planning and Convergence department would be the institutional mechanism between Collectors and the respective departments for appraisal, approval and sanction of the projects.
