(a) the total amount of fund allocated and spent on road construction in the North-Eastern States during the last three years and the current year; State-wise;
(b) whether the pace of construction of roads is very slow leading to severe constraints in connectivity;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to expedite road construction in the North-Eastern States?
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [GENERAL(Retd.) V.K.SINGH]
(a) Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region funds road sector projects in North Eastern States under Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) Scheme and Schemes of North Eastern Council (NEC). Funds allocated and utilized on construction of roads under these Schemes, during last three years and current year, state-wise under NLCPR and NEC Schemes are given in at Annexure-A and Annexure-B respectively. The funds allocated and released on road construction in the North Eastern States through Ministry of Road Transport & Highways are given at Annexure-C.
(b) Yes, Sir.
(c) Some of the reasons of (b) are :-
(i) Time lag between release of funds and sanction of the projects.
(ii) Non-submission of Utilization Certificates in time by the State Governments.
(iii) Problems related to land acquisition and forest clearance.
(iv) Prevailing law and order etc.
(v) Limited working season due to high rainfall.
(d) The schemes of road projects sanctioned under the NLCPR schemes are implemented by the respective State Public Works Departments. The projects are periodically monitored by the nodal officers of the State and through field inspections made by the officers of the Ministry and Independent Quality Monitors. The Ministry regularly monitors the projects through Quarterly Project Reports and review meetings. Similarly, NEC also holds review meetings periodically to review physical and financial progress of the road projects.