State’s Rural Development Minister Neelkanth Singh Munda on Thursday sought an assistance of Rs400 crore from the Central Government to complete various roads in rural areas under Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY). The demand was put at a review meeting here held by Union Minister of State for Rural Development Sudarshan Bhagat at SKIPA auditorium. Bhagat assured that demands raised by the State Government will be taken into consideration after a discussion at the Centre.
“Prime Minister’s Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was the major topic of today’s review meeting during which the State Government assured us to remove the drawbacks in order to complete various schemes by June this year,” said Bhagat. It was also decided that that a similar meeting will be held every three months to review the ongoing projects being carried out in the State, added Bhagat.
He, however, asserted that the pace of projects in some of the Naxal-hit areas under PMGSY was not satisfactory. “The Centre was ready to provide all support needed in this regard,” he added. Munda calling the meeting a great success said that four major issues were discussed before the Union Minister, including a demand of Rs400 crore for the completion of pending construction work under the PMGSY.
“Firstly, we are determined to carry forward the initiative taken by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee under which a target of 16,000 villages and hamlets will be connected through roads,” said Munda. “We have succeeded in connecting over 8,500 villages while the rest of the villages will be connected soon,” he added.
“Secondly, we have demanded Rs400 crore from the Centre so that the target under PMGSY could be achieved within the stipulated time period,” he added. “Thirdly, several roads under the scheme have not been completed due to various reasons, which need to be expedited. Agencies involved in it have also been told to complete the projects under the stipulated time period,” he said.
“lastly, a prior approval is required from the Centre for the repair and widening of the bridges and culverts where the construction work is being carried out which needs to be reviewed as it unnecessarily delays the project,” said Munda. Bhagat was also informed the ministry is running short of funds in carrying out the projects as it has been allocated only Rs247 crore against a demand or Rs800 crore while Rs560 crore has already been spent by the ministry in the State.