Village Connectivity Must Not Be Lost During Monsoon: Dr. Yogesh Kadam

– Minister of State for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj

Mumbai, June 5 – “Heavy monsoon rainfall in the Konkan region often leads to rising river levels, causing connectivity issues between villages. This must not be allowed to happen,” asserted Dr. Yogesh Kadam, Minister of State for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, during a high-level meeting on canal repairs in Konkan.

The review meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Eknath Dawle, Konkan Divisional Commissioner Vijay Suryavanshi, and senior officials from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg who joined via video conferencing.

Minister Kadam emphasized the importance of ensuring seamless rural connectivity throughout the monsoon. “Existing canals across the Konkan region must be repaired on priority, and new roads should be built based on localized needs,” he added. He also proposed the formation of a dedicated state-level fund specifically for the construction and repair of rural roads like Panand roads.

“Village-level data collection must be initiated immediately to assess needs accurately,” said the Minister. He further suggested that the height of existing canals should be raised and converted into bridges where feasible to prevent disruption.

The Minister concluded by urging all departments to treat this initiative as mission critical for Konkan’s monsoon preparedness.