With eye on polls, South body allots more funds for rural development

The hike is meant to develop rural areas to bring them on a par with urban centres. Focus will be on putting in more streetlights, constructing concrete roads, school buildings, drains and sanitation facilities

With the Delhi Assembly election just a few months away, councillors have started wooing voters. The rural ward committee has decided to increase the budget allocation of rural villages to bring them on a par with the urbanised villages.

The South Municipal Commissioner had proposed an allocation of Rs 2 crore. But the rural committee has decided to hike this to approximately Rs 50 crore.

Standing Committee chairman, South corporation, Rajesh Gehlot said the allocation was hiked to benefit the rural population, which is largely neglected after the election. There are 212 villages in South corporation and the funds are transferred from the Centre to the state government and local bodies.

"There have been instances of the Delhi government claiming that the development work in these villages have been done by them as it is they who give the funds. Rural voters are vital and it is important to see that they too receive their share in the development work," a senior BJP councillor said.

"We want to put in more streetlights, roads constructed and school buildings maintained in rural areas. There should be an effort to make these villages equivalent to urbanised centres. We will develop some wards as model wards. These will all facilities like proper sanitation, clean drains, roads and concrete school buildings," Gehlot said.

As many as 32 rural villages, 12 urbanised villages and 10 unauthorised-regularised villages will be upgraded in first phase.

Gehlot had toured the Najafgarh zone and announced a sports complex, amusement park, one dispensary and an additional road to residents.

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