Jammu and Kashmir government has said the engagement of as many as 17,500 supporting staff under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act would be fast tracked so as to ensure timely execution of set targets.

"The engagement of 17,500 supporting staff under MGNREGA will be taken up at the Assistant Commissioner Development level to give fillip to the execution of the scheme," Minister for Rural Development Department Ali Mohammad Sagar said yesterday.

Replying to a question in the Legislative Assembly here, the minister said wage rate under MGNERGA has been enhanced from Rs 70 to Rs 110 per day after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took up the issue with the Union government.

The state government has also put up the demand for enhancing the rates to Rs 150 with the Governing Council of MGNERGA, the minister said.

Sagar said the expeditious engagement of supporting staff would catalyse the execution of flagship programme of MGNERGA and ensure meeting of set targets in time.

The officers of rural department have been directed to take five works in each village under MGNERGA, he said adding any complaint in this regard could be brought to his notice.

He assured action against erring officials of his department within 24 hours if they were found committing irregularity of any sort.