Chandigarh, Dec 22 (IANS) In a bid to ensure overall growth of the region, the Chandigarh administration has started various projects to facilitate the speedy development of villages here, officials said Tuesday.
There are 13 villages — having a 60,000-strong population — which fall under the jurisdiction of Chandigarh.

Sanjay Kumar, union territory (UT) finance secretary, told reporters: “The administration is playing a proactive role in ensuring the overall development of the villages. There are many areas that are still nowhere near the basic amenities needed to ensure quality life.”

He added: “We have increased the economic share of these villages in the last few years. We are determined to make them look-alikes of other sectors of Chandigarh and hence, many developmental projects were started there.”

“All the UT villages have been provided with facilities like schools, piped water supply, electricity supply, concrete roads, sewerage facilities, multi-purpose buildings for various activities and regular bus services,” said Kumar.

According to official data, the administration spent Rs.34.6 million (Rs.3.46 crore) on various projects in the villages during 2007-08. Besides, an amount of Rs.five million was provided to the department of science and technology for making provision of solar street lights in all villages.

Increasing the share during 2008-09, Rs.50 million was earmarked for providing various amenities in villages.

“We have also taken initiatives for arranging the facility of paying guest houses in the villages, training rural youth in entrepreneurship development, shifting of cattle from villages, and conducting surveys of below-poverty-line families for their social and economic upliftment,” said Kumar.

This centrally-administered city was designed by legendary French architect Le Corbusier. Chandigarh’s population is over 1.1 million and it also boasts of the highest per capita income in the country.