Boost for state road projects under PMGSY-ii

After rejecting pleas for funds under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) till last year,arguing the state had 100 per cent connectivity,the Centre has finally accepted its demand for funds to improve condition of roads in rural areas.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and rural development minister Jayant Patil had been pursuing the matter.

They wanted the Centre to amend guidelines or set new ones to accommodate states that may have good connectivity but still need central funds for road works.

Maharashtra expects the Centre to give Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 crore. The state has always received stepmotherly treatment,with chunk of PMGSY funds going to West Bengal,Bihar,Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu,Uttar Pradesh and Orissa.

Chavan argued,“Almost 40 years ago,the state government under Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) undertook construction of roads on war footing. EGS helped build 12,640 km of roads and establish excellent connectivity in rural Maharashtra.

“After 40 years,these roads are in a poor condition and have to be reconstructed or repaired.”

But the Centre was unwilling to buy this. The central rural development department gives priority to states that have poor road networks.

In a presentation made to former rural development minister Jairam Ramesh and incumbent Jayanthi Natarajan,Chavan and Patil demanded special provisions for states such as Maharashtra.

The Centre finally conceded after a year but with the condition that the state bear 30 per cent of the cost. It also extended the benefit to Karnataka,Rajasthan,Andhra Pradesh and states facing similar problems.

In his budget speech,Union finance minister P Chidambaram said,“There is a proposal to carve out PMGSY-II and allocate a portion of funds to new programmes that will benefit states such as Maharashtra,Andhra Pradesh,Karnataka,Punjab and Rajasthan.”