DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Haryana Chief Minister while addressing a press conference here today, announced the decentralization of the powers of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and giving more autonomy to these small governments to speed up the development works being done in rural areas. Sh. Manohar Lal further announced that from now onwards, the Sarpanches, and Chairman of Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads can accord administrative approval for the development works up to Rs. 2 lakh at their level only. No tenders will be floated for all such works, said Sh. Manohar Lal. The Chief Minister informed that Junior Engineers can give technical approval for works up to Rs 2 lakh. Similarly, SDO can give technical approval for works ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Short-term tenders will be floated for these works through Haryana Engineering Works Portal. Likewise, XEN will give technical approval for works ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1 crore. The technical approval for the works ranging from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2.5 crore will be given by the Superintending Engineer and the approval of the works above Rs 2.5 crore will be given by the Chief Engineer, informed Sh. Manohar Lal. He said that Gram Panchayats also have fixed deposits. Out of these deposits, up to Rs 50 lakh in a year or 10 percent of the deposits, whichever is higher, can be released by the Deputy Commissioner, for any required developmental works to be executed in the villages. "If more than this amount is to be released from these deposits, then the Deputy Commissioner will refer the matter to the State Government," informed Sh. Manohar Lal. The Chief Minister informed that if any PRI falls short of the amount in executing their development works, then the additional amount of Rs 25 lakh given by the State Government will be directly released to the PRIs. However, Rural Development Department will get all the works done above Rs. 25 lakh, informed Sh. Manohar Lal. The Chief Minister said that the administrative approval for the work ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1 crore will be given by the Director, Rural Development Department, and technical approval will be given by XEN. Meanwhile, administrative approval for work ranging from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2.5 crore will be given by the Administrative Secretary of concerned department, while the technical approval for all such works ranging of the same amount will be given by the superintending Engineer. The Chief Minister further informed that administrative approval for the development work ranging from Rs 2.5 to Rs. 10 crore will be given by the concerned Minister, while the technical approval will be accorded by the Chief Engineer. He said that administrative approval for the works above Rs 10 crore will be sent to the Chief Minister for final approval, while the technical approval will be given by the Chief Engineer. The Chief Minister informed that with this new system, the execution of development works will be done at a faster pace. Sh. Manohar Lal said that the government allocates 7 percent of its revenue to PRIs and Municipal Bodies for development works according to the population size of villages and cities. However, 2 percent is kept in reserve so that additional funds can be provided to financially weak Panchayati Raj institutions and municipal bodies. Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Director General, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Dr. Amit Agarwal, Additional Director, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Sh. Vivek Kalia also remained present on this occasion. (editor@dailyworld.in)