TMC pressure forces scheme amendment

Jul 21, 2012 - MANISH ANAND |

Age Correspondent

New Delhi

Giving in to the opposition of the Trinamul Congress-led West Bengal government, the Centre appears open to amend its proposal for a new version of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY 2.0) for which a Cabinet note will soon be moved. The ministry of rural development had circulated a note on PMGSY 2.0 to the states in which it was proposed that the Centre and states would share the cost in 50:50 ratio.
“We will soon move a note to the finance ministry wherein we will also include the states’ demands that the cost-sharing ratio should be 75:25 between the Centre and states. The ministry’s proposal is for sharing the cost equally between the Centre and states (50:50). PMGSY 2.0 will be for taking up upgradation of the rural roads only,” said Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh.
West Bengal rural development minister Subrata Mukherjee had earlier opposed the move to ask the state governments to share 50 per cent cost in upgradation work of the rural roads. West Bengal’s opposition had even led former finance minister Pranab Mukherjee to seek clarification from Mr Ramesh, after which it was clarified that the PMGSY, under which the Centre bears 100 per cent cost, would continue as long as all rural habitations with 500 population and 250 in tribal areas are not connected.
According to the proposal of the ministry, PMGSY 2.0 is expected to cost the exchequer `59,000 crores over a five-year period. While the Planning Commission is stated to have given its nod to the proposal of PMGSY 2.0, it will soon be moved for getting the Cabinet approval. PMGSY 2.0 seeks to upgrade roughly 80,000 km of rural roads in various states.
Meanwhile, the Centre in a key decision Friday allowed upgradation of rural roads after a gap of three years under PMGSY funds.
Interestingly, West Bengal will be the key beneficiary of the decision, with the state being entitled to upgrade over 10,000 km long rural roads.
Among other states Assam (8,000 km), Bihar (5,000 km), Chhattisgarh (6,000 km), Gujarat (2,000 km), Jammu and Kashmir (3,000 km), Jharkhand (7,000 km), Kerala (800 km), Madhya Pradesh (3,000 km), Orissa (9,000 km), Punjab (2,000 km), Tamil Nadu (7,000 km), Uttar Pradesh (7,000 km), Uttarakhand (4,000 km) can claim funds under upgradation window from the Centre.

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