The Jammu and Kashmir government has been pulled up by the Union Ministry for Rural Development for its dismal performance in execution of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY). The Centre has threatened the State to stop funding to the State under the premier road development programme in rural India.
The Union Minister for Rural Development, Jairam Ramesh has written in this regard to the State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and pointed out that delay in execution of the programme, improper monitoring, poor spending on creation and maintenance of the assets and poor quality of works was hitting the scheme in J&K. The latest missive from the Union Ministry follows its reminders to the State in the past asking it to improve performance under the scheme.
The PMGSY is Government of India-funded programme aimed at providing all-weather road connectivity to unconnected habitations in rural areas. Under it, the Ministry has sanctioned Rs 4,793 crore for construction of 1,886 roads covering a length of 9,606.63 kilometer till November 2012.
However, the letter points out that J&K has completed only 670 works covering 4,044.65 kilometere, involving Rs 1,862 crore. Notably, 1,216 works including 682 works (50.44 per cent) sanctioned prior to March 2010 are still incomplete which is a matter of serious concern since under PMGYS works are required to be completed within 18 months, Jairam writes to Omar.
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