Pradhan Mantri sadak yojana poorly implemented in J&K
Vikas Sharma
Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 5
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is struggling in the effective implementation of implementation of flagship scheme the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The Ministry of Rural Development Department has expressed concern over the pending completion of roads and bridges which were to be completed by March 2019.
Scheme launched in 2000
The scheme was launched on December 25, 2000, as a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme to provide all- weather road connectivity in rural areas of the country.
The programme envisages connecting all habitations with a population of 500 persons and above in the plain areas and 250 persons and above in hill states, the tribal and the desert areas.
Sources said total 1,451 roads of 8,113 kms and 161 bridges in J&K which were supposed to be completed by March 2019 have not been completed so far. They added that the Central ministry hadmade it clear to the UT authorities that no further date would be extended beyond March 2020 to complete the pending works.
J&K was asked to expedite the progress keeping in view that beyond March 2020, the UT would have to build the road from its own resources. Sources further said the Union ministry observed that the funds utilisation percentage in J&K was also very less. “Only Rs 8.47 crore was credited in the account of the State Rural Road Development Agency (SRRDA) as against requirement of Rs 49.77 crore. UT needs to take a serious view of this”, a Central ministry statement said.
The ministry also expressed concern over the quality issues claiming that 632 labs were not established. The authorities were directed to look into it on a priority basis and submit physical progress. It also came to the fore that 55 works were such in which payment of more than Rs 1 lakh was made when the work had not been inspected even once by the state quality monitors (SQMs). “It was seen that the quality parameters, especially that of maintenance works, was lacking”, the ministry observed.
