Dang Area Development Scheme: ₹20 Crore Budget Approved for 237 Villages in Kota; Minister Warns Officials Against Laxity

KOTA: In a major boost to rural infrastructure and regional growth, the District Level Regional Development Committee has officially approved the Annual Action Plan for the Dang Area Development Scheme for the financial year 2026-27. The critical approval was granted during a high-profile meeting held at the Kota District Collectorate Auditorium on Wednesday, chaired jointly by Rajasthan’s Education and Panchayati Raj Minister, Madan Dilawar, and Kota District Collector, Piyush Samariya. The newly approved plan paves the way for executing development projects worth approximately ₹20 crore to upgrade civic amenities in the region’s most backward rural pockets.

Key Highlights of this News:

• Massive Financial Approval: A comprehensive roadmap consisting of 296 rural development projects worth around ₹20 crore has been sanctioned for the Kota district.
• Widespread Regional Coverage: The development drive will directly transform 237 villages across 47 Gram Panchayats spanning four key blocks: Itawa, Sultanpur, Khairabad, and Ladpura.
• Strict Quality Controls: Minister Madan Dilawar issued a strict mandate making it compulsory for contractors to construct proper drainage systems alongside interlocking road projects.
• Zero-Tolerance on Waste: The Panchayati Raj Department has been explicitly warned that funds designated for village cleanliness must be strictly utilized for sanitation purposes only.

Strategic Funding Split for 296 Infrastructure Projects

To ensure systematic development, the proposed infrastructure works have been strategically split into two primary priority lists based on local urgency:

• First Priority List: Features 127 essential projects with an estimated expenditure exceeding ₹8 crore.
• Second Priority List: Comprises 169 development works requiring an allocation of over ₹12 crore.

The extensive list of approved public works includes the construction of additional school classrooms, the laying of internal village roads using interlocking tiles, the building of security retaining walls, and the systematic expansion of drainage channels. Furthermore, significant funds have been earmarked for the holistic development and renovation of local cremation grounds (Muktidhams) and prominent religious pilgrimage sites within these rural zones.

Following the local committee’s green light, the comprehensive proposal is being forwarded to the state government. Once ratified by the state-level Dang Regional Development Board, the final funds will be disbursed to the executing agencies.

Focus on Eradicating Waterlogging and Prompt Road Repairs

During the review, Panchayati Raj Minister Madan Dilawar took a tough stance on the operational quality of public utilities. Addressing the engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD), he expressed deep dissatisfaction over damaged transit routes and ordered the immediate, time-bound repair of all uprooted or broken rural roads across the district.

The Minister also highlights a critical gap in rural engineering: the construction of roads without adequate drainage. He instructed officials to ensure that no contractor leaves an interlocking road incomplete without building accompanying concrete side-drains. Minister Dilawar noted that the absence of structured drains leads to severe waterlogging, transforming village lanes into muddy, unhygienic swamps that pose severe health risks to the residents.

Strict Warning Against Diversion of Sanitation Funds

Shifting his focus to public health and hygiene, the Minister delivered an uncompromising message to the administrative officers of the Panchayati Raj Department. He asserted that any laxity regarding village cleanliness would result in strict disciplinary action.

“The financial grants released by the government specifically for rural sanitation must be deployed 100% into keeping the villages clean,” Dilawar stated. He made it clear that diverting these funds for any other administrative expenses or miscellaneous works would be treated as a serious violation of guidelines.