Cong alleges of grafts in PMGSY works

Raipur, July 06, 2013

Congress on Saturday alleged of grafts and irregularities in road works carried out under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY).

Referring to a letter sent by union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh to chief minister Raman Singh on irregularities in road projects the party’s spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said the state government’s officials did not follow instructions of committee authorised to review PMGSY works

The committee had directed the officials to increase strength of state quality monitors (SQM) to keep an eye on quality of roads but nothing happened, he said.

Besides, the government has not approved bills of those contractors who have completed their projects, he pointed.

He said on inspection the national quality monitors (NQM) found 19% of PMGSY works below satisfactory-level in financial year 2011-12. In the fiscal 2012-13 the NQMs again found 23% of works below par, he added.

The state government’s officials were supposed to submit compliance report to the committee in its July 4, 2013 meting that they had taken appropriate measures to improve the quality of the works and check irregularities but they appeared sans report, he said.

Irked by the government’s attitude, the committee categorically said that it would not convene any meeting unless officials prepare the compliance report, he added.