Lok Sabha Question No. 4368 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-19
Subject: Persistent Challenges in Punjab
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4368 ANSWERED ON 19/08/2025

## PERSISTENT CHALLENGES IN PUNJAB

4368. Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the persistent developmental challenges in the Kandi region of Punjab including  lack  of  irrigation,  drinking  water  scarcity  and  poor road connectivity, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  steps  taken  to  address  soil  erosion,  unemployment  and migration from this ecologically sensitive region; and
- (c) whether any special financial package or Central assistance is being  planned  to  support  holistic  development  of  the  Kandi belt and uplift its socio-economic conditions, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a)to (c): Ministry  of  Rural  Development  is  implementing  various Schemes  for  development  of  rural  areas  of  the  country  which includes  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme  (Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY). Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is a demand driven wage  employment  Scheme,  with  an  objective  to  provide  not  less than  one  hundred  days  of  unskilled  manual  work  as  a  guaranteed employment in every financial year to every household in rural areas as per  demand,  resulting  in  creation of  productive  assets  of prescribed quality and durability.

It provides livelihood security, i.e. fall back options for livelihood for the rural households, when no better employment opportunity is available.

Details of Persondays generated in Kandi region (Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar (Nawanshahr), Pathankot, Ropar and SAS Nagar Mohali) of Punjab under Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS  during  the current financial year 2025-26 (as on 14.08.2025) are  given below:

|   SI. No. | District               |   Persondays generated (Figure in lakh) |
|-----------|------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
|         1 | Hoshiarpur             |                                    6.77 |
|         2 | SBS Nagar (Nawanshahr) |                                    6.15 |
|         3 | Pathankot              |                                    3.67 |
|         4 | Ropar                  |                                    5.84 |
|         5 | SAS Nagar Mohali       |                                    3.15 |

Category-wise  details  of  works  taken  up  and  expenditure  in Kandi  region  (Hoshiarpur,  SBS  Nagar  (Nawanshahr),  Pathankot, Ropar  and  SAS  Nagar  Mohali)  of  Punjab  under  Mahatma  Gandhi NREGS during the current financial year 2025-26 (as on 14.08.2025) are given at Annexure.

With regards to Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY), it is  stated that "Rural road" is a State subject. As a part of poverty reduction strategy, the Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri  Gram  SadakYojana  (PMGSY-I)  on  25th  December  2000  to assist the States through construction of rural roads. Under PMGSY I,  eligible  unconnected  habitations  were  taken  up  for  providing connectivity through all-weather roads. In Punjab, under 500+ population category, a total of 389 habitations were sanctioned for providing  connectivity  under  the  PMGSY-I  and  all  the  habitations have  already been  provided  connectivity. Other verticals viz. PMGSY II and PMGSY III were also started for upgradation of rural roads  for  better  connectivity  to  growth  centres  and  for  improved connectivity  to  schools,  hospitals,  Gramin  Agricultural  Markets, respectively.

PMGSY plays a pivotal role in improving rural connectivity and enabling inclusive development. Since its inception in 2000, PMGSY

has been instrumental in transforming rural livelihoods by providing all-weather road connectivity to previously unconnected habitations,  especially  in  remote,  border,  tribal,  and  backwards areas. Improved road infrastructure under PMGSY has:

-  Facilitated better access to health care, education, and social services.
-  Enabled market linkages for farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs, thereby enhancing rural incomes and creating local employment opportunities.
-  Supported rural housing programs (e.g.,  PMAY-G) by ensuring material supply chains and construction access.
-  Strengthened rural  development  schemes  like  MGNREGS, NRLM, JalJeevan Mission, and Swachh Bharat Mission through improved last-mile connectivity.

The  State  of  Punjab  has  already  been  sanctioned  its  complete entitlement under PMGSY-I, II & III. The Status of projects sanctioned,  completed  and  balance  under  various  verticals  of PMGSY for the State of Punjab as on 13 th  August, 2025 are as under:

|            | Sanctioned   | Sanctioned       | Sanctioned   | Completed    | Completed        | Completed   | Balance*     | Balance*         | Balance*   |
|------------|--------------|------------------|--------------|--------------|------------------|-------------|--------------|------------------|------------|
| Vertical   | No. of roads | Road length (km) | LSBs         | No. of roads | Road length (km) | LSBs        | No. of roads | Road length (km) | LSBs       |
| PMGSY-I    | 1,050        | 6,937            | 0            | 1,050        | 6,912            | 0           | 0            | 0                | 0          |
| PMGSY- II  | 123          | 1,343            | 7            | 123          | 1,331            | 7           | 0            | 0                | 0          |
| PMGSY- III | 339          | 3,365            | 67           | 205          | 2,241            | 17          | 134          | 1132             | 50         |
| Total      | 1,512        | 11,645           | 74           | 1,378        | 10,484           | 24          | 134          | 1,132            | 20         |

*Balance road length is less than the difference of sanctioned and completed  length  due  to  the  reasons  that  some  projects  were completed with less than the sanctioned length due to reduction in road  length,  change  in  alignment,  construction  of  part  length  by other agencies, etc.

Recently,  a  new  vertical  named  PMGSY-IV  has  been  launched  on 11 th September, 2024 with a focus on providing all-weather connectivity  to  25,000  eligible  unconnected  habitations  of  500+ population in plain areas, 250 + population in NE and Hill States/UTs, special category areas (Tribal Schedule-V, Aspirational Districts/Blocks,  Desert  Areas)  and  100+  in  Left  Wing  Extremism (LWE) affected districts as per Census 2011.

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## Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of LokSabhaUnstarred Question No. 4368 dated 19.08.2025.

| District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   | District -wise, Category-wise details of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in Kandi region of Punjab during current FY 2025-26 (as on 14th   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Name of the Categories                                                                                                                               | HOSHIARPUR                                                                                                                                           | HOSHIARPUR                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                      | SBS Nagar NAWANSHAHR                                                                                                                                 | SBS Nagar NAWANSHAHR                                                                                                                                 | SBS Nagar NAWANSHAHR                                                                                                                                 | Pathankot                                                                                                                                            | Pathankot                                                                                                                                            | Total Exp.(in Rs lakh)                                                                                                                               | ROPAR                                                                                                                                                | ROPAR                                                                                                                                                | ROPAR                                                                                                                                                | SAS NAGAR MOHALI                                                                                                                                     | SAS NAGAR MOHALI                                                                                                                                     | SAS NAGAR MOHALI                                                                                                                                     |
| Name of the Categories                                                                                                                               | No. of works                                                                                                                                         | No. of works                                                                                                                                         | Total Exp.(in Rs lakh)                                                                                                                               | No. of works                                                                                                                                         | No. of works                                                                                                                                         | Total                                                                                                                                                | No. of works                                                                                                                                         | No. of works                                                                                                                                         | Total Exp.(in Rs lakh)                                                                                                                               | No. of works                                                                                                                                         | No. of works                                                                                                                                         | Total Exp.(in Rs lakh)                                                                                                                               | No. of works                                                                                                                                         | No. of works                                                                                                                                         | Total Exp.(in Rs lakh)                                                                                                                               |
| Name of the Categories                                                                                                                               | Comple ted                                                                                                                                           | Ongoin g                                                                                                                                             | Total Exp.(in Rs lakh)                                                                                                                               | Complete d                                                                                                                                           | Ongoin g                                                                                                                                             | Exp.(in Rs lakh)                                                                                                                                     | Complet ed                                                                                                                                           | Ongoin g                                                                                                                                             | Total Exp.(in Rs lakh)                                                                                                                               | Complete d                                                                                                                                           | Ongoing                                                                                                                                              | Total Exp.(in Rs lakh)                                                                                                                               | Com plete d                                                                                                                                          | Ongoing                                                                                                                                              | Total Exp.(in Rs lakh)                                                                                                                               |
| Anganwadi /Other Rural Infrastruct ure                                                                                                               | 24                                                                                                                                                   | 1,093                                                                                                                                                | 530.48                                                                                                                                               | 28                                                                                                                                                   | 239                                                                                                                                                  | 110.60                                                                                                                                               | 4                                                                                                                                                    | 397                                                                                                                                                  | 96.58                                                                                                                                                | 24                                                                                                                                                   | 295                                                                                                                                                  | 59.48                                                                                                                                                | 2                                                                                                                                                    | 326                                                                                                                                                  | 50.71                                                                                                                                                |
| Drought Proofing                                                                                                                                     | 232                                                                                                                                                  | 1,784                                                                                                                                                | 441.07                                                                                                                                               | 122                                                                                                                                                  | 593                                                                                                                                                  | 418.70                                                                                                                                               | 18                                                                                                                                                   | 1,132                                                                                                                                                | 264.18                                                                                                                                               | 114                                                                                                                                                  | 733                                                                                                                                                  | 190.43                                                                                                                                               | 12                                                                                                                                                   | 669                                                                                                                                                  | 418.78                                                                                                                                               |
| Flood Control and Protection                                                                                                                         | 67                                                                                                                                                   | 375                                                                                                                                                  | 452.66                                                                                                                                               | 10                                                                                                                                                   | 64                                                                                                                                                   | 68.35                                                                                                                                                | -                                                                                                                                                    | 33                                                                                                                                                   | 22.00                                                                                                                                                | 94                                                                                                                                                   | 407                                                                                                                                                  | 446.54                                                                                                                                               | -                                                                                                                                                    | 26                                                                                                                                                   | 0.88                                                                                                                                                 |
| Land Developme nt                                                                                                                                    | 79                                                                                                                                                   | 394                                                                                                                                                  | 114.20                                                                                                                                               | 256                                                                                                                                                  | 260                                                                                                                                                  | 280.50                                                                                                                                               | 40                                                                                                                                                   | 1,209                                                                                                                                                | 628.09                                                                                                                                               | 424                                                                                                                                                  | 836                                                                                                                                                  | 387.26                                                                                                                                               | 33                                                                                                                                                   | 263                                                                                                                                                  | 122.29                                                                                                                                               |
| Micro Irrigation Works                                                                                                                               | 109                                                                                                                                                  | 508                                                                                                                                                  | 274.84                                                                                                                                               | 10                                                                                                                                                   | 143                                                                                                                                                  | 217.77                                                                                                                                               | 14                                                                                                                                                   | 253                                                                                                                                                  | 161.78                                                                                                                                               | 22                                                                                                                                                   | 85                                                                                                                                                   | 259.80                                                                                                                                               | -                                                                                                                                                    | 11                                                                                                                                                   | 2.51                                                                                                                                                 |
| Renovation of traditional water bodies                                                                                                               | 142                                                                                                                                                  | 1,030                                                                                                                                                | 641.90                                                                                                                                               | 101                                                                                                                                                  | 384                                                                                                                                                  | 940.29                                                                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                                                                    | 110                                                                                                                                                  | 30.68                                                                                                                                                | 24                                                                                                                                                   | 523                                                                                                                                                  | 901.43                                                                                                                                               | 6                                                                                                                                                    | 276                                                                                                                                                  | 408.58                                                                                                                                               |
| Rural Connectivi ty                                                                                                                                  | 104                                                                                                                                                  | 1,140                                                                                                                                                | 111.89                                                                                                                                               | 76                                                                                                                                                   | 285                                                                                                                                                  | 39.73                                                                                                                                                | 24                                                                                                                                                   | 874                                                                                                                                                  | 172.85                                                                                                                                               | 91                                                                                                                                                   | 325                                                                                                                                                  | 62.95                                                                                                                                                | 9                                                                                                                                                    | 317                                                                                                                                                  | 48.34                                                                                                                                                |
| Rural Sanitation                                                                                                                                     | 46                                                                                                                                                   | 753                                                                                                                                                  | 10.73                                                                                                                                                | 16                                                                                                                                                   | 76                                                                                                                                                   | 7.27                                                                                                                                                 | 3                                                                                                                                                    | 356                                                                                                                                                  | 14.11                                                                                                                                                | 8                                                                                                                                                    | 63                                                                                                                                                   | 2.17                                                                                                                                                 | 3                                                                                                                                                    | 259                                                                                                                                                  | 53.58                                                                                                                                                |
| Water Conservati on and Water Harvesting                                                                                                             | 33                                                                                                                                                   | 156                                                                                                                                                  | 30.46                                                                                                                                                | 35                                                                                                                                                   | 147                                                                                                                                                  | 200.53                                                                                                                                               | 2                                                                                                                                                    | 236                                                                                                                                                  | 75.47                                                                                                                                                | 13                                                                                                                                                   | 174                                                                                                                                                  | 116.19                                                                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                                                                    | 72                                                                                                                                                   | 6.39                                                                                                                                                 |
| Works on Individuals Land                                                                                                                            | 63                                                                                                                                                   | 1,632                                                                                                                                                | 85.58                                                                                                                                                | 63                                                                                                                                                   | 678                                                                                                                                                  | 10.91                                                                                                                                                | 4                                                                                                                                                    | 1,441                                                                                                                                                | 48.42                                                                                                                                                | 119                                                                                                                                                  | 1,823                                                                                                                                                | 62.16                                                                                                                                                | 4                                                                                                                                                    | 1,399                                                                                                                                                | 71.98                                                                                                                                                |
| Total                                                                                                                                                | 899                                                                                                                                                  | 8,865                                                                                                                                                | 2,693.81                                                                                                                                             | 717                                                                                                                                                  | 2,869                                                                                                                                                | 2,294.65                                                                                                                                             | 110                                                                                                                                                  | 6,041                                                                                                                                                | 1,514.16                                                                                                                                             | 933                                                                                                                                                  | 5,264                                                                                                                                                | 2,488.41                                                                                                                                             | 70                                                                                                                                                   | 3,618                                                                                                                                                | 1,184.04                                                                                                                                             |

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