NREGA funds to be used for "Green Rajasthan" scheme:Govt

Aiming for a  "green revolution" in Rajasthan in five years, the state government on Monday said that it would soon launch an scheme in which labourers would be given jobs under the NREGA for massive sapling plantation.

The state forest department, as a nodal agency, would hire NGOs, and private partners for tree plantation, maintenance and watering on regular basis, chief secretary Kushal Singh told reporters on Monday.
   
She added that the water table was depleting very fast in parts of the state and over 200 under-ground water blocks were turned into dark zones. To conserve and revive the natural water resources mainly underground sources, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was giving final touches to the massive project to be launched soon, the Chief Secretary said.
    
Road along highways, school and college premises, government offices and barren forest land would be utilized for the green cover, she said. Besides, the NREGA funds would also be utilized to mitigate water-related woes in villages and towns, she said.
   
Earlier, NREGA funds were mainly used in construction of roads, water tanks and school rooms by providing jobs to labour. Now it would be a scheme called "Harit Rajasthan" (green rajasthan), she said.