Providing road connectivity between remote and urban areas of Jharkhand is one job that often faces serious threats from ultras that threaten to derail State’s development march, however, contrary to reports of such threats halting construction work the department of Rural Works brushed aside the concern and presented a rosy picture of infrastructure-related works in rural areas.
Minister for Rural Works Neelkanth Singh Munda claimed that the department in most of the cases of reports of arson and obstruction took cognizance to help resumption of works that faced the threat of getting shut for unknown duration. Notably, reports percolating from Gumla had drawn attention to the intimidation angle still getting factored in the construction process.
“Something has happened in Gumla and in that case an FIR was registered by the department. The PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna) and State funded projects are going on very well. This (Naxal threat to work) is not an issue,” asserted the Minister.
Sources confided that the PMGSY has been affected in Gumla as the department had to toil hard to invite bids for construction of 12 roads in the district. Although the department had floated tender on a number of occasion, it got lukewarm response for the `25-crore project. likewise, obstructions to Murhu-Torpa and lodma-Karra road constructions were also reported in September. Even as the media was abuzz that the fear of ultras is driving away contractors was denied by the department. Most of the roads come under Chainpur, Palkot, Ghaghra and Bishunpur blocks of Gumla district. Similarly threat of naxals had been reported as the reason for no interest among contractors for a road construction project in Sonahatu block of Ranchi.
“Firing was reported at some places. But as of now there is no such issue. New tenders have been floated and people are taking interest. Earlier, monitoring of work was missing. But the situation has changed. If contractors fear anything then they should come forward and inform us about that in written then only we can do anything,” maintained Munda.
Meanwhile, the department claimed that everything is hunky-dori at rural front and corroborated with facts to suppress ultra’s threat to projects. Singh added that 84 per cent works related to construction of bridges and culverts have been completed; of `410-crore released for PMGSY in the current financial, the department has spent around Rs403-crore on various projects under the head; around 70 per cent of funds earmarked by the State government for rural infrastructure projects has been spent on the project besides spending on MNREGA project inching towards the expenses made in previous financial year.