Srinagar, Dec 17: While expressing displeasure over slow implementation of centrally sponsored scheme, Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana, in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh Saturday asked state government to speed up work on the program aimed at connecting the rural habitations.
“Money is not the problem for implementing the central schemes particularly PMGSY. Funds are available but state government needs to accelerate pace of work on the program,” Ramesh told Greater Kashmir on the sidelines of launching ceremony of central job plan scheme “Himayat” at Kashmir University here.
Responding to a query about implementation of different schemes funded by Government of India in JK, Ramesh said his ministry had recently taken up the slow execution of PMGSY with the state government and the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
“I have been assured of prompt action,” the Union Minister said.
The PMGSY is aimed at providing connectivity, by way of all-weather roads to the eligible unconnected habitations in the rural areas.
As per the reports, around 900 habitations across the state identified many years back under ‘Core Network’ for connectivity under the PMGSY scheme are yet to be linked.
Officials cite around 29 Programme Implementation Units established to implement the scheme face shortage of manpower including hundreds of junior engineers.
At the moment there are 17 PIUs in Jammu Division and 12 in Kashmir valley. The delay on part of the government to make available adequate manpower is delaying construction of several roads already cleared by the Government of India.
“The pace of construction has to be speeded up in the state,” Ramesh said.
Union Rural Development Ministry has repeatedly expressed its dismay over the poor implementation and failure of the state government to utilize the funds released under the scheme.
PMGSY was started in Jammu and Kashmir in 2000 with the aim to develop a massive road network to connect all small habitations with the nearest urban centers.
In August this year, Ramesh had conveyed his displeasure over poor implementation of PMGSY to the state Chief Minister too after his visit to the Srinagar where he had reviewed its execution.
Under the PMGSY, J&K has Rs 2658 crore worth sanctioned projects to cover 5111 kms of road length. The spendings have been Rs 359 crore during 2009-2010 and Rs 297 crore during 2010-11. For the current financial year about Rs 450 crore has already been released to the state government in comparison to the expenditure of only Rs 120 crore.

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