Audit report of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) by CAG
According to the performance audit report of the Pradhan Mantri
Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) by CAG, tabled in Parliament recently, a total of 372
works under the rural road connectivity scheme were abandoned/proposed to be
abandoned mid-way in 11 States, due to non-availability of land or land
disputes. Of these, Rajasthan accounts for the highest – 213 abandoned works –
followed by Odisha with 107 works.
Highlights of the report:
- In 26 States, 4,496 works were delayed from one month to 129 months. Among these, Bihar accounted for the highest number of delays at 1,243, due to paucity of funds and non-availability of material, followed by 572 in Odisha, 378 in Rajasthan due to land dispute, heavy rain, as well as paucity of funds, and 367 works in Uttar Pradesh.
- The report also found a few discrepancies, such as unconnected habitations that were shown as connected, non-inclusion of eligible habitations, etc, in 19 States.
- In seven States – Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, and West Bengal – 73 road works were executed and shown as completed.
- To reduce systemic deficiencies and closer monitoring of the scheme, the CAG report urged the nodal Rural Development Ministry to create a Geographical Information System data base of rural roads information system for each State, and fix responsibility and accountability of agencies and individuals.
About PMGSY:
PMGSY was launched on 25th December 2000 as a fully funded
Centrally Sponsored Scheme to provide all weather road connectivity in rural
areas of the country. The programme envisages connecting all habitations with a
population of 500 persons and above in the plain areas and 250 persons and
above in hill States, the tribal and the desert areas.
The objective was to give roads to villages:
- With a inhabitants of 1000 persons & more by year 2003
- Having populace of 500 & more by 2007
- Mount states, ethnic & desert region villages having a population of 500 & more by the year 2003, &
- Mount states, ethnic & desert region villages having population of 250 & more by 2007.
