Srinagar, Aug 7: In another glaring instance of official inertia, the Centre’s mega road connectivity program - Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) - is marred by poor work quality and under-utilization of maintenance funds in Jammu and Kashmir.
The  latest  status report of Centre about implementation of the flagship scheme in JK reveals that Government of India-appointed National Quality Monitors (NQM) have found a high percentage of the completed works are not up to the mark in the state. “It has been found during NQM inspections carried out between November 2010 and June 2012 that a high percentage - 35% of completed works were found unsatisfactory,” the report reads.
Ironically, the percentage of such works in neighboring states during the corresponding period is very less. In Himachal Pradesh, it is only seven percent.
Pertinently, three-tier Quality Control mechanism is envisaged under PMGSY. While the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) is responsible for first tier monitoring, the second tier monitoring is done by quality control units, set up/engaged by the State Government, independent of the Executive Engineers/PIUs and third-tier monitoring is done by Central government appointed NQM.
The report says that State Quality Monitors have also found that the construction of   roads executed under the flagship scheme were also unsatisfactory.
“Against 37 inspections of completed road works by State Quality Monitors during November 2010 to June 2012, in 3% cases, quality of works has been found unsatisfactory for which immediate corrective action is required. Similarly against 470 inspections of ongoing road works during this period, in 1% cases quality of works has been found unsatisfactory,” it reads.
What could be more embarrassing for the State Government, the physical performance in   PMGSY has also been below the mark as against 1177 habitations cleared only 1042 were connected by roads up to the year 2011-12.
“Since inception of the scheme and upto the year 2011-12, a total of 1,777 habitations have been cleared for connecting with all-weather road by constructing 7,011 km of road length. Against this, the State has connected 1,042 habitations by constructing 2,973 km of road length,” the report adds.
According to the report, project proposals of Rs 3706 crore have been cleared for the State till May this year and Rs 1,901 crore have been released so far. Out of Rs 1900 crore pumped by the Centre, Rs 1500 crore have been utilized by the State Government till date.
What is more worrisome, the State’s performance has been abysmal vis-à-vis maintenance of built roads.
“While expanding the rural road-network, the challenge also lies with maintaining the new infrastructure being created. Though there is 5-year maintenance in-built in the programme, the State has been lagging in ensuring the same,” the report reads.
According to the details, the expenditure against maintenance has been very low as Rs one crore has been utilized during past two years against the release of nearly Rs 1100 crore.
It is pertinent to mention here that Centre has repeatedly expressed dismay over poor performance of State Government vis-à-vis PMGSY.
“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,”   Union Minister Jairam Ramesh had told Greater Kashmir on December 17 last year.
The slow pace of work has hampered connectivity in JK as 51 percent of the villages; identified under union government’s flagship programme Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Jammu Kashmir remained unconnected even after 12 years since the launch of the programme in the state.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 7 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 7 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST