Govt to upgrade rural dvpt board by forming body

The Delhi government on Wednesday upgraded its Rural Development Board (RDB) by announcing to form a new body which will carry out development works in urban villages of the national capital.

The decision was taken in meeting of the board's members, chaired by Development Minister Gopal Rai, which took in consideration that the RDB does not mandate to take up civic works in urban villages.

Rai said the new 'Village Development Board' will be constituted within one month with the cabinet's nod. "The government has decided to upgrade Rural Development Board with the new one — Village Development Board — in order to ensure development works in both urban and rural villages. We have set aside around Rs 600 crore for the same," he said.

MLAs are also members of the Rural Development Board which take decision to initiate development work in rural areas of the city while the irrigation department executes projects. "As per laid down rules, the RDB does not have any mandate to carry out development work in urban villages. Once the proposed Village Development Board is in place, the body can do it," Rai said.

The minister also said that the board has received around 600 development proposals from legislators and out of these, work orders have been given for 36 proposals.