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Title: Need to earmark a minimum of 15 per cent of the allocations under PMGSY for improvement of the existing main roads in the states.
(KEONJHAR): Sir, the Government of India, Ministry of Rural Development is allocating funds to the States under PMGSY to provide connectivity to unconnected habitations having population over 1000 and between 500 and 999. The scheme also envisages upgradation to a prescribed standard of some existing roads. During the year 2000-2001, Rs. 179.70 crore have been sanctioned by the Government of India and 144 packages have been sanctioned to Orissa. In these packages they have allowed improvement of some existing roads besides providing new connectivity.
During 2001-02, 217 packages amounting to Rs.350 crore have been cleared by the Government of India for Orissa but the Government of India did not allow inclusion of existing roads which require improvement. The roads approved by them for 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04 are new roads to provide connectivity to all unconnected habitations. Providing new connectivity to the habitation will not be of much benefit to the rural people unless the main roads to which these are connected are improved as per the IRC standards/specifications.
Therefore, I urge upon the Government to earmark, at least, 15 per cent of the allocation for improvement of the existing main roads to provide better connectivity.