BHUBANESWAR: Pointing out operational deficiency in the timely execution of the rural connectivity programme under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) rapped the State Government for lack of planning and monitoring for execution of projects. The Opposition raised the issue in Assembly The massive rural infrastructure programme launched in the last quarter of 2000 with the objective of providing all-weather connectivity to rural habitations with a population of 1,000 or more by 2003 and 500 and above population in villages by the end of the Tenth Plan Period (2007). The target was to provide connectivity to 10,420 habitations, including 3,703 unconnected villages having population of over 1,000 by 2007. However, the Government could provide all-weather connectivity to only 5,598 villages, including 3,336 villages with more than 1,000 population by July 2010. Of the 6,717 unconnected habitations having more than 500 and less than 1,000 population, only 2,262 villages were provided connectivity. As per the 2000 estimate, 29,019 out of total 50,097 habitations having more than 250 population were without all-weather connectivity. While the Eleventh Plan Period is coming to an end, the Government could provide connectivity to 7,681 habitations by July 2010 leaving more than 21,000 villages unconnected. Although 550 roads remained incomplete in eight sample districts, the Government did not recover liquidated damages for ` 87 crore (10 per cent of the contract price) from the contractors who failed to execute the projects in time. After conducting performance audit of 1,512 packages in districts of Balangir, Cuttack, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Koraput, Mayurbhanj and Nabarangpur, the CAG found out that poor selection of roads and execution of uncalled for projects led to extra expenditure of Rs.104.72 crore. As many as 31 roads constructed with an investment of ` 38 crore could not provide all-weather connectivity to the targeted villages due to missing links like non-construction of bridges. As all the bridges exceeded 25 metres, the Government has to make a separate provision. Though the Government clarified that the bridges will be constructed with financial assistance from Nabard under rural infrastructure development fund (RIDF), construction of even a single bridge could not be taken up till September last year. While emphasising on online management and monitoring of the road projects for timely completion, the CAG chided the Government for the poor maintenance of the PMGSY roads. It advised the Government to provide required funds for maintenance of the roads.
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