Dismal performance of PMGSY in Jammu and Kashmir: PDP

Srinagar, Aug 24 (UNI) Expressing dismay over the poor execution of Prime Minister's Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) in Jammu and Kashmir the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti said out of 137 rural roads, only 9 had been completed, of which 7 were not up to the mark and only two met the required standards.

Ms Mufti, who was on an extensive tour of Kokernag constituency in south Kashmir district of Anantnag today, said while crores of rupees are being shown as spent under PMGSY in rural areas of the State, the program, instead of having any impact on the ground, seems to be merely a political rhetoric confined only to trumpeted pronouncements.

Quoting the Union Rural Development Minister, Mr Raghuvansh Pratap Singh's statement in the Parliament yesterday, Ms Mufti said the startling revelations made by the Union Rural Development Minister regarding the dismal performance of PMGSY in the State is a matter of grave concern for the all of us.

The Chief of the PDP, a coalition partner in the Congress led coalition government in the state, said Mr Singh has stated that in PMGSY, worst performance was reported from Jammu and Kashmir where the Union Rural Development Ministry surveyed 137 rural roads and found that only nine had been completed, of which seven were not up to the mark and only two met the required standards.

The remaining 128 are still under construction and of these 81 failed to pass the test and only 47 were found satisfactory.

Expressing concern over the issue, Ms Mufti said the State Government must immediately look into the causes of negligence in the execution of PMGSY roads as it is one of the flagship projects of the UPA Government that could have transformed the rural road connectivity scenario in the State.

She said the State could have immensely benefitted from the PMGSY scheme as it offers unlimited funds for rural connectivity. ''However the report of the Union Rural Development Ministry over the poor performance of the State Government on this front has raised question marks over the execution of the program in the State,'' she said and demanded that the Government must go deep inside the system to root out the malaise that is plaguing the State's development.

Ms Mufti stressed the need for exploring and developing virgin tourist spots for expanding the local economies and creating area-specific job opportunities in the state.

She said there is immense tourism potential for various areas around Kokernag that are unexplored so far.

UNI