‘States must set fund for road upkeep’

Dec 10, 2010 - Age Correspondent |

New Delhi

In order to ensure proper maintenance of the roads built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana the rural development ministry has decided to make it mandatory for the states to maintain 7.5 per cent of the funds allocated for the purpose.
Officials said the ministry would soon issue a directive to the states asking them to deposit 7.5 per cent of the funds allocated for building roads under the PMGSY with their road development agency. This money will have to be spent only on the maintenance of roads constructed under the scheme. In case the states fail to follow the order, fresh allocation of funds to them would be held back.

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Indian Navy chief on Sri Lanka tour
Age Correspondent
New Delhi

Dec. 9: Indian Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma is visiting Sri Lanka on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Sri Lankan Navy, even as India has already extended a line of credit of $100 million towards “capacity-building and capability-enhancement” of the Sri Lankan Navy, it was officially announced on Thursday.
Sources, meanwhile, said a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) of the ministry of defence (MoD) was held earlier this week to discuss certain important acquisitions for the armed forces.
The Navy, for instance, has embarked on an important acquisition plan to induct more indigenous warships.

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Kerala body defends use of endosulfan
Age Correspondent
Thiruvananthapuram

Dec. 9: The Plantation Corporation of Kerala on Thursday strongly defended its use of the controversial endosulfan pesticide in Kasargode, embarrassing the Left Democratic Front government.
The PCK has taken this stance even as the state government has announced a special package for endosulfan victims and is campaigning for its nationwide ban.
In an affidavit filed before the Kerala high court, the PCK termed the pesticide “safe” and added brazenly that it was not planning to give compensation to the people in the northern district who have allegedly been suffering its ill-effects.

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