Question : Evaluation of PMGSY

(a) whether the work under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is going on at a slow pace and the materials being used are of substandard quality, if so, the details thereof State/UT-wise and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(b) whether instances of delay in release of funds under the PMGSY have been reported from various States in the country during the last three years and the current year, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether several States have not been able to spend the funds received from the Government under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) during the said period, if so, the details thereof, State/UT wise including Jharkhand;

(d) whether the Government is taking/ proposes to take any special initiatives to speed up the progress of work under PMGSY in the country, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard, State/UT-wise?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI BIRENDER SINGH)

(a): ‘Rural Roads’ is a State subject and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is a one- time special intervention of the Government of India to improve the rural infrastructure by way of a single all –weather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations in the core network.As per the programme guidelines, the implementation of PMGSY and the quality of construction is the responsibility of the State Government.Under PMGSY, out of 1,78,184 eligible unconnected habitations, the Ministry has so far, cleared 1,45,041 habitations and the States have reported to have provided connectivity to1,12,550 habitations and constructed 4,53,980km road length (including upgradation). State wise details of habitation connected and roadlength completed (including upgradation) under PMGSY upto October, 2015are given at Annexure-I.

(b) to (c): The funds under PMGSY are released to the State Governments for executing projects sanctioned under PMGSY as per Annual Allocation, which is made based on the availability of funds, value of on-going works etc. The funds for the cleared projects are made available to the State Governments in minimum two installments after fulfilling of conditions laid down by the States as per the programme guidelines.An amount of Rs 28,570 crore has been released to the State Governments and an amount of Rs45,530 crore has been utilized by the States during the last three financial years and the current financial year (upto October 2015). State wise details regarding funds released and expenditure incurred during the last three years and the current yearunder PMGSY is given atAnnexure-II.

(d) to (e): PMGSY was launched on 25th December, 2000 as a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme. During the current year 2015-16, for accelerated execution of PMGSY, the Ministry of Rural Development in consultation with the Ministryof Finance has formulated an Action Plan to achieve early target by way of enhanced financial allocation to the States and modified funding pattern in the Scheme. Accordingly, the fund sharing pattern of PMGSY has been made in the ratioof 60:40 between the Centre and the States for all States except for 8 North Eastern and 3 Himalayan States for which it is 90:10. In view of the availability of substantial additional allocation of funds under the Scheme during the year 2015-16 and 2016-17, the States have been advised to submit new proposals to the Ministry as per the PMGSY guidelines for consideration and sanction under PMGSY.
All State Governments have been requested in various Regional Review Meetings and Empowered Committee Meetings to take suitable necessary action to expedite works under PMGSY and full utilization of funds. The following steps have been specifically taken by the Ministry in this direction:

(i) States have been requested to augment executing capacity.

(ii) Bidding Document provisions have been rationalized.

(iii) Training has been imparted to field engineers including contractors & their staff for capacity building.

(iv) Regular and structured review of physical and financial parameters.

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