G.O.(Ms.) No.126, Construction of Cement Concrete Pavement, Paver Block Pavement and Culverts / Cross Drainage Structures in Rural Areas, 2020

What the document governs

G.O.(Ms.) No.126 of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (CGS.1) Department authorises specified rural road and drainage works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for 2020-21. The works were approved following an announcement by the Chief Minister in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and a proposal from the Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.

The total estimated cost is Rs.636.71 crore. Financial sanction is conditional on release of the Central share.

Approved works

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (CGS.1) Department permitted:

• 700 km of cement concrete pavement at an estimated cost of Rs.258.37 crore. This consists of 350 km in Scheduled Caste habitations and 350 km in other habitations.
• 400 km of interlocking paver block pavement at an estimated cost of Rs.168.16 crore. This consists of 200 km in Scheduled Caste habitations and 200 km in other habitations.
• 450 culverts with a 1.5 metre span.
• 400 culverts with a 3 metre span.
• 350 minor bridges.
• 2,000 culverts exclusively for streets in Adi Dravidar habitations.

The culverts and minor bridges have a combined estimated cost of Rs.210.18 crore. Actual estimates may vary according to site conditions.

Selection in Adi Dravidar habitations

Project Directors of District Rural Development Agencies must use the THAI survey report and identify requirements through the relevant Block Development Officer.

• Scheduled Caste habitations are to be prioritised in descending order of Scheduled Caste population.
• Sites are to be selected in descending order of population.
• Villages identified as atrocity prone by the Additional Director General of Police, Social Justice and Human Rights, must be taken up regardless of population.
• Other Adi Dravidar habitations may be covered only after the requirements of atrocity prone villages in the district blocks are exhausted.

Implementation requirements

The approved rural works must follow these requirements:

• A 3 by 4 feet Citizen Information Board containing the required project information must be placed at each work site.
• Works in Adi Dravidar habitations must also display the prescribed logo and emblem.
• Estimates, administrative sanctions and technical sanctions must be processed through SECURE software.
• The Rural Schedule of Rates for 2020-21 applies, including future revisions.
• Labour cost is borne fully by the Government of India. Material cost is shared between the Government of India and the State Government in the ratio stated in the document.

Relevance to property owners and buyers

G.O.(Ms.) No.126 concerns publicly funded infrastructure in selected rural streets and habitations. It may be relevant when checking whether a locality was selected for pavement, culvert or minor bridge work, but it contains no provision transferring private property ownership.