(a) whether certain irregularities in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana have been found out;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to maintain the quality of roads to be constructed under the said Yojana?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT(SHRIMATI SURYAKANTA PATIL)
(a) to (c) Rural roads being a State subject, the State Government is primarily
responsible for ensuring the proper execution of the programme. The quality of
implementation is monitored through the supervisory mechanism of the State
Government, and further through the normal audit process.
A three-tier Quality Control mechanism has also been prescribed for
ensuring quality at works level. The State Government, as the executing agency, is
responsible for the first two tiers at the works and at the State levels. A third tier of
quality monitoring is enforced at the Central level by the National Rural Roads
Development Agency (NRRDA) under the Ministry of Rural Development through
National Quality Monitors (NQMs) who are senior retired engineers with road
construction experience. They inspect works on systematic randomized basis and
advise the executing machinery on all technical aspects of the programme.
Inspections by NQMs upto October,2004 have been as follows:-
Completed works Works in progress Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Satisfactory Unsatisfactory 8678 713 11143 3451Where a work is found unsatisfactory necessary rectification is to be done in the quality of the material or workmanship. In case of unsatisfactory completed works the State Government is also expected to take action against the contractor at fault.