Centre concerned over slow progress of RD proj

Agartala, Sep 16: The Rural Development Ministry expressed concern over slow progress in implementation of rural connectivity programme in nine states, including Tripura.

According to the available records, only 53 habitations of Tripura were connected with road links, as against the target of connectivity to 183 habitations during 2006-07, despite availability of sufficient funds and proper support from the Centre.

Official sources here today said as against the eligible 810 villages the Ministry had cleared proposals to connect only 534 habitations in the state in past two years while 176 km roads have been constructed as against the target of 262 km.

As per Rural Connectivity programme, all villages with more than 1000 population (more than 500 in case of hilly and tribal areas) were to be provided with all-weather connectivity by 2009, the officials stated.

In its review on the performance of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Assam, Chhattisgarth, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Orissa, Tripura, UP, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, the ministry had expressed concern over the slow progress.

In Assam, as against the eligible 5641 villages, so far only 1150 villages have been provided with connectivity and the Ministry had cleared proposals to connect only 1598 habitations.

During the year 2006-07, as against the target of providing connectivity to 1998 habitations, only 804 habitations were provided with connectivity. As against the target of construction of new roads of 2864 Km, only 1552 km had been constructed, the record revealed.

Referring the Ministry's record, the officials added that in West Bengal, as against the eligible 13070 villages, so far only 1930 villages had been provided with connectivity and the Ministry had cleared proposals to connect 4129 habitations.

As against the target of providing connectivity to 2738 habitations, only 960 habitations were provided with connectivity during the year 2006-07.

The states have been asked to get additional project implementation units dedicated to implement the PMGSY and increase the absorption capacity to at least four times of the present capacity, the officials added.

UNI