BHUBANESWAR: The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has made a revised allocation of Rs1,257 crore for the State under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for the current financial year.
The revised Central allocation still falls short of the State’s demand for Rs2,500 crore under this flagship programme to clear the backlog and arrear dues of contractors.
Consequent to higher devolution of funds to the States as per the recommendations of 14th Finance Commission and recommendation of the Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, the Centre has changed the fund sharing pattern of PMGSY in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and State.
The modified sharing pattern is made effective from current financial year and it will be applicable to all ongoing as well as outstanding works, a recent communication from MoRD to the State Government said.
As per the changing pattern, the State Government’s share is estimated at Rs838 crore and the total annual allocation is kept at Rs2,095 crore.
Setting a target to construct 3,000 kms of road under PMGSY for providing all-weather connectivity to 1,700 habitations in the current fiscal, the State Government has made a provision of Rs1,900 crore in the Budget anticipating Central allocation of Rs1,800 crore.
The MoRD had indicated an allocation of Rs912 crore for the rural infrastructure in June and revised its share of assistance to Rs1,003 crore in October.
Meanwhile, the State Government has constructed 8,808 roads with a length of 33,981 kms out of total sanctioned length of 45,189 kms with an expenditure of Rs13,954.82 crore.
The State had constructed 3,843 kms of road in 2014-15 and the progress upto September was 1,594 kms which are being completed with an expenditure of Rs762 crore out of an allocation of Rs982 crore.
Of 16,392 unconnected habitations of the State, all-weather connectivity has been provided to 12,010 villages.
As per the latest report, Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded eight roads of 2005-06, 28 roads of 2006-07, 84 roads of 2008-09, 153 roads of 2011-12 and 1,120 roads of 2013-14 have not been completed. The Centre has asked the State to complete these projects by March 2016.
The State Government is preparing the project reports of the eligible left out 4,178 villages for consideration of Central assistance under PMGSY.