(a) whether the State Governments are facing difficulties in taking up the rural road
works in the hilly areas due to some unfavourable norms under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
Yojana (PMGSY);
(b) if so, whether the Union Government proposes to make some specific provisions
for the speedy construction of roads in the hilly areas; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT(DR. RAGHUVANSH PRASAD SINGH)
(a) to (c) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred in reply to part (a) to (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question
No.230 due for reply on 14.3.2008.
(a): Relaxation in norms for coverage of habitations under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
Yojana (PMGSY) as well as the rural roads component of Bharat Nirman has been
provided for hill States. Under PMGSY, all habitations with a population of 500 persons
and above in the plain areas are eligible for coverage; whereas in hill States, all habitations
with a population 250 persons and above are eligible. Under Bharat Nirman, all
habitations with a population of 1000 persons and above in the plain areas are eligible for
coverage; whereas in hill States, all habitations with a population of 500 persons and above
are eligible.
(b)&(c): Having regard to the specific difficulties being faced by the hill States in the
implementation of PMGSY, further relaxations have been accorded by the Ministry of
Rural Development from time to time. These relaxations are as follows:-
i. As per the original programme guidelines, population of all habitations within a
radius of 500 metres (1.5 km. of path distance in case of hills) is clubbed together
for the purpose of determining the population size. This cluster approach enables
provision of connectivity to a larger number of habitations, particularly in the
hill/mountainous areas. This provision of cluster approach has been recently
amended by the Ministry of Rural Development. According to this amendment, in
the blocks bordering international boundary in the hill States (as identified by
Ministry of Home Affairs), all habitations within a path distance of 10 km would be
treated as a cluster.
ii. Because of difficult terrain, adverse weather conditions and relatively shorter
working season for execution of PMGSY projects in hill States, time period of 18
months is now allowed for completion of Stage-I works in place of earlier
provision of nine to twelve months. Time period allowed for completion of
projects under PMGSY in the Plain areas is nine to twelve months.
iii. Geometrics have also been reviewed on the basis of recommendations of an expert
committee and formation is now permitted with 3 m carriageway and 5.5 m
roadway in the hill states, where traffic is less than 100 motorized vehicles per hour
as against the earlier provision of minimum 3.75 m carriageway and 6 m roadway.
iv. The proposal of the State Government of Jammu & Kashmir for reducing the
package size from the existing Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 50 lakh has been accepted by the
Ministry of Rural Development.