Rural dept issues guidelines for road and bridge works

In a government order, the Rural Development department said that the Centre has instructed to begin the implementation of road and bridges works under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in areas outside the containment zone prescribed based on the instructions given in the consolidated revised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

With the State government’s permission, the director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj has issued detailed guidelines for commencement of road and bridges and other construction works in rural areas excluding the containment zones and red blocks.

“The district collectors should carefully identify the areas where the works can be restarted. The works can be commenced only after specific approval by the district collectors on a case by case basis,” said the order The idea is to provide direct and indirect employment opportunities to local people, thus the contractors should be encouraged to use local labour as far as possible and the workers from containment zones and red blocks must not be allowed, the order further said.

“Awareness should be created among all the workers about the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, severity of the disease and isolation of infected person. The workers should be provided with cloth face mask and workers should be educated in detail about the method of using face mask and to wash it for reuse,” it said.

The order noted that hand washing facilities with soap and water should be provided at the work site.

“The persons above age of 55 should not be engaged for works. The persons with co-morbidities like high blood pressure, diabetic, kidney and heart disease, cancer and any other serious illness should be avoided. The social distancing of two meter should be maintained between workers,” it said directing the contractor against transporting workers packed in a vehicle.