BANGALORE: In view of its good performance in the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Grama Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the state has been given an additional grant of Rs 810 crore by the Centre.
Addressing mediapersons on Friday, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Shobha Karandlaje said that the state had been given a grant of Rs 600 crore during 2008-09. “While many states failed to utilise the grants, Karnataka has done extremely well. In view of our performance, the Centre has diverted Rs 810 crore grant left unused by other states to Karnataka”, Karandlaje said.
In addition to the existing 19 divisions for implementing the project, ten more divisions would be created so that there will be a separate division for each district. Similarly, in addition to the 32 existing sub-divisions, 19 more subdivisions would be formed. The Rs 810 crore grant obtained would be utilised to form 2700 km long pucaa road in different parts of the state. Of the total 1,47,000 km long rural road in the state, about 13,000 km has been improved (ie pakka road formed). Of this 13,000 km, 9,000 km were constructed under the PMGSY. The PWD, which proposes to go for toll-roads in a big way, would develop 3000 kms of rural roads connecting to the state highways. For the year 2009-10, the state government proposes to seek a grant of Rs 1000 crore from the Centre, the Minister said. The Minister strongly defended her decision to do away with the award of piecework system for repairing roads by the panchayats.
“The resolutions passed by two-three zilla panchayats against my decision has not come to my notice. Wherever I receive complaints of shoddy roads works being done, I will order an inquiry”, she warned.