 "MP govt asks Centre for more funds towards MNREGA, other projects")
Madhya Pradesh government has demanded Rs 1,500 crore under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA).
State chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today called on Union minister Nitin Gadkari and put his demand.
Chouhan also demanded a separate fund of Rs 26,000 crore for river-linking project from Union minister for water resource Uma Bharti.
Chouhan also urged her to award National Project status to Bergi dam project. In another demand to Union Minister Gadkari, Chouhan also demanded another Rs 2,600 crore under Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana and a fund of Rs 600 crore under Indira Awas Yojana.
"The fund is the remaining installment which is to be released to be state," a government official said. State has to pay wages to the labours of MNREGA for which it needed Rs 1,000 crore and initiate various construction activities.
"The chief minister urged the union minister to release the first installment of Rs 500 crore in December," said the official.
State chief minister in May this year, said he would expedite his demand for Ken-Betwa river linking project once NDA government takes reigns from the UPA-II.
"Meanwhile, Uma Bharti has informed the chief minister that detailed project reports of four river linking project has been forwarded to the state. And a recommendation for sanction of necessary funds," the official said.
As regards national status to Bargi Diversion Project (BDP) which is a transvalley canal irrigation project of the state the central government is mulling over it. The project is envisages construction of a 194-km long main canal from existing Rani Avanti Bai Lodhi Sagar (Bargi dam) in Jabalpur.
Much will now hinges upon Central government as state has already put its demand for a sanction of Rs 5,127 crore. So far state government has invested more than Rs 1,200 crore in the project in construction of 104-km length of its canal.