MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI LALCHAND KATARIA)
(a)to(d): Rural Roads is a State subject and the responsibility of the execution of
works under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is that of the State Government.
However, PMGSY is a one-time special Central intervention and envisages connecting all eligible
unconnected habitations by way of an All-weather Road (with necessary culverts and cross-
drainage structures operable throughout the year) as per Core-Network with a population of 500
persons (as per 2001 census) and above in plain areas and 250 persons and above in Hill States,
the Tribal (Schedule V) areas, the Desert areas (as identified in the Desert Development
Programme) and in the 82 Selected Tribal and Backward Districts in 9 States under Integrated
Action Plan (IAP), as identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Planning Commission. The
82 Selected Tribal and Backward Districts under IAP include18 districts of the State of Odisha
including districts bordering other States. Up-gradation of selected rural roads to provide full
farm to market connectivity is also an objective of the scheme, though not central to it. The
funds are provided for above by Central Government.
(e): Rural road is a State subject and as per programme guidelines, execution of rural roads
under PMGSY is entrusted to the State Governments. The projects are sanctioned to the State,
based on its institutional capacity to efficiently execute the PMGSY works with requisite
attention to quality. State of Odisha is facing constraints like limited contracting capacity,
non- availability of sufficient qualified technical personnel, limited working seasons and adverse
climatic conditions, non-availability of land and clearance of the land falling in forest areas,
law and order problem etc. in execution of PMGSY schemes.
