Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh seeks PM Manmohan Singh's intervention to complete PMGSY-13/9/11

13 Sep, 2011, 10.30PM IST, PTI

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh seeks PM Manmohan Singh's intervention to complete PMGSY


NEW DELHI: Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's "urgent intervention" to complete the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in 60 Left Wing Extremism affected districts of the country.

"PMGSY is the one issue that requires intervention at your level," Ramesh told the Prime Minister at the end of a workshop of Collectors of 60 Naxal-affected districts here.

"This is the one issue on which I seek your personal intervention. And if you agree, we will come back to you with a detailed proposal with a specific focus on meeting the PMGSY needs in IAP (Integrated Action Plan) districts," he said.

"As things are right now, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is not going to be completed by 2017 or 2018, but everybody agrees that this is one single transformative programme everywhere but in LWE or IAP districts particularly," he said.

Ramesh later said the Prime Minister has agreed to hold discussions with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on the issue and it would be placed before the Union Cabinet soon.

PMGSY, as currently structured, covers habitations with population of 250 plus. Estimated fund requirements to cover unconnected habitations in these 60 districts is about Rs 15, 300 crore. This should be completed in next three years.

"In addition, all habitations with population between 100 and 249 in these districts should also be covered. Estimated funds requirement is about Rs 19,340 crore. This should be completed in next three years," Ramesh said seeking Singh's intervention.

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