Lok Sabha Question No. 3752 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-21
Subject: Relaxation of Norms under PMGSY
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3752 ANSWERED ON 21/12/2021

## RELAXATION OF NORMS UNDER PMGSY

## 3752.   SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government considers relaxation of the norm to sanction for providing connectivity to habitation 100 and above for 18 AIP Districts and 250 and above in 12 Non IAP districts of Odisha, since tribal dominated districts cover more than 40 per cent of total population of State;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is considering to share funds towards the cost of post fiveyear maintenance of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) roads; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a)  &  (b)    The  Government  launched  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  Sadak  Yojana  (PMGSY)  in December 2000, as a one-time special intervention to provide rural connectivity, by way of a single all-weather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-Eastern States, Himalayan States, Desert and Tribal Areas as per 2001 census) in the core network for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the  rural  population.  In  the  critical  Left  Wing  Extremism  affected  blocks  (as  identified  by Ministry of Home Affairs), additional relaxation has been given to connect habitations with population  of 100 persons and above (2001 census).

As  on  15 th December,  2021,  against  1,78,184  habitations  in  the  population  size  250+  and 500+  identified  for  coverage  under  PMGSY,  16,086  habitations  have  been  provided connectivity by the States out of their own resources and 4,722 habitations have either been dropped or not been found feasible. Out of the balance 1,57,376 habitations sanctioned for providing connectivity under the PMGSY, 1,55,474 have already been covered and balance 1,902 habitations are targeted for all-weather road connectivity by September, 2022. Under 100-249  population  category,  6,260  habitations  have  been  sanctioned  for  providing  allweather road connectivity under PMGSY, out of which 5,802 habitations have been saturated and  balance  458  habitations  are  targeted  for  all-weather  road  connectivity  by  September, 2022.

In the State of Odisha, 16,301 habitations have been provided all-weather road connectivity while 106 habitations have either been dropped or are not feasible as on 15 th December, 2021. In  case  of  100-249  population  size  habitations  in  most  intensive  Integrated  Action  Plan blocks,  against  1,991  eligible  habitations,  1,872  habitations  have  already  been  provided connectivity as on 15 th December, 2021 including 273 habitations, which have been provided connectivity under the State Scheme.

The State of Odisha has already been sanctioned its full entitlement under new connectivity component  of  PMGSY.  No  further  sanctions  are  being  given  for  habitation  connectivity scheme under PMGSY. There is no proposal for relaxing the norms as of now.

(c)  &  (d)    Rural  roads  is  a  State  subject.  Maintenance  of  roads  constructed  under  the programme is the responsibility of the State Governments and all road works are covered by initial five year maintenance contracts to be entered into along with the construction contract, with the same contractor, as per the Standard Bidding Document. Maintenance funds are to be  provided  by  the  State  Government.  Maintenance  of  roads  beyond  5  years  is  also  to  be done by the State Government.

Since 2016-17, financial incentives are  given to top performing States,  which show higher achievement in the year on the basis of set parameters to be used by the States specifically for  periodic  maintenance  of  roads.  The  State  of  Odisha  was  given  financial  incentives during the years 2016-17 to 2020-21 as given below:-

| Year    |   Incentive sanctioned (Rs. in crore) |
|---------|---------------------------------------|
| 2016-17 |                                175.67 |
| 2017-18 |                                109.61 |
| 2018-19 |                                 73.68 |
| 2019-20 |                                 95.94 |
| 2020-21 |                                155.48 |

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