Govt to improve roads in Naxal-hit regions

Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on February 4 said the Centre has decided to improve the condition of roads in the Naxal-hit regions under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). He observed that Naxalism can be tackled only through development.

The road connectivity is a major problem in the left wing extremism areas. In these regions, Naxals prevent construction of roads and also blow up already constructed roads, Ramesh said during his two-day visit to Bastar region in Chhattisgarh state. Therefore, the Union Government has decided to improve road connectivity in the Naxal-hit regions under the PMGSY in two phases, Ramesh added.

In the first phase, WBM (Water Bound Macadam) roads will be constructed in these regions, he said adding that the asphalting work will be taken up later if Naxals do not indulge in road destruction activities, he said.

During his visit to the tribal-dominated Sukma and Bijapur districts in the region, Ramesh asked the public representatives to carry the construction work with the help of gram panchayats. However, the public representatives said that the gram panchayats will come on the target of the Maoists if they get involved in development projects.