Complete PMGSY targets in time for smooth funding: Centre to JK 

Srinagar, Sep 15: Reprimanding Jammu and Kashmir government over slow pace of works in Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the Centre has told the state that funds for the future will only be released if the works are completed in set targets.

The state government has shown poor utilization of funds under the PMGSY scheme.

An official document reveals that pack of works under the scheme is below the national average.  “For the next seven months, the state would require to construct roads at an average rate of 10 km per day,” the document reads.

The pace of works is such state is yet to construct 10,546 kilometres road length under the scheme, out of this 6,428 kilometres is unawarded road lenghth, the document reads.

The centre has told the state all these works are required to be awarded on priority basis.

Expressing concern over slow pace of works, Union Secretary for Rural Development Department has written to state government to achieve the target by March 2019.

“The state has been able to get approval under PMGSY-11, which would be possible after awarding 80 percent of old works,” the recent letter reads.

“Against annual allocation of Rs 800 crore, the state has not yet placed demand for release of 1st installment. State has not yet credited corresponding state share of Rs 151.22 crore for the year 2017-18,” it says.

“It is requested that the above funds may be released immediately to JKRRDA for smooth implementation of the programme as well as for further release from government of India,” it adds.

The state has to complete connectivity of 600 habitations by March 2019. However, only 100 habitations (16.66 percent) as per the document have been connected in the current financial year.

Similarly against the target to construct 2800 KM road length, the achievement is only 601 km (21.46 percent of the target).

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and its National Rural Road Development Agency (NRRDA) had also reprimanded Jammu Kashmir Government for slow pace of progress on the pending projects and asked the state to focus on balance habitations, particularly in its nine districts, which have less than 40 percent connectivity.