PMGSY works cannot be monitored due to want of security, says Engineer
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 18 2011: On the final day of the three-day Bharat Nirman campaign held at Takyel Kolom Leikai community hall organized by Press Information Bureau Government of India Imphal together with sister organizations PMGSY was taken up for discussion in the morning session.

Deliberating on the topic Th Shyamsunder SE, MSRRDA informed that PMGSY was started from 2000 with conversion of 637 works of BMS to PMGSY.

The same programme covers new connectivity to villages having population of 500 and above, 250 in respect of desert and hilly areas of North Eastern region and also upgradation of existing roads to the extent of 20 percent.

In Manipur there are eight border blocks viz Ukhrul, Chingai, Kamjong, Kasom Khullen, Tengnoupal, Chakpikarong, Singhat and Thanlon.

PMGSY has reached VII stage in Manipur.

Intially PMGSY did not lay down specific guidelines as to what should be done on matters of allotment of work order.

Consequintly woks could not be completed on time.

DCs and DRDA were preoccupied with their own activities.

One office has been opened to deal with the contractors doing PMGSY works.

District level monitoring meetings were held to supervise the works done under PMGSY.

Due to the deteriorating law and order situation in Manipur problems also arose in completion of the works in time.

Quality control is an in thing, he added.

A local said at one particular area a sign board displayed cost of work, stipulated time and name of contractor but the progress of the work remained stagnant.

Expert said such sign board is erected to create public awareness of the thickness of the WBM, width of the road and the height of the bitumen.

He frankly admitted that monitoring cannot be done as engineers require security.

He informed that though nine contractors have been engaged to do PMGSY works sub contractors have taken up the work and responsibility cannot be fixed.

A local wanted to know can the size of the road be expanded as the socio economic conditions of the people living in rural areas have improved, he said PMGSY is meant for improvement of IVR and ODR and the same pattern is applied all over the country.

Now the size of the road can be expanded up to six meters.

But problems arise in getting the required land as the roads pass through agricultural land, he added.

He said if cooperation is extended by the masses the quality of the roads will improve.

A local man suggested involvement of panchayat bodies in the recommendation of the roads to be repaired and roads to be constructed.

He said there is no such proposal.

He added roads have been identified according habitation in descending order and according to the availability of fund by the core network .

He said the roads in Thoubal districts are slightly better.L.Dhananjay EE,PIU,PMGSY,Imphal West shared the campaign while clarifying questions which were arised by the Public.

Earlier giving here keynote address Premlata Loitam MCO, PIB Imphal stressed the importance of Bharat Nirman campaign, which will make the common people aware of the various schemes and programmes launched by the Government of India for the benefit of the people in rural areas.

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