Ministry approves funds for rural roads

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 9. The political wrangle over the allocation of funds for rural roads has been overcome and the Union Ministry of Rural Development has approved the allocation of Rs. 2,162.56 crores. These funds would be utilised under the scheme which has now been christened as ``Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana'' (Prime Minister's Rural Road Project). The Yojana was launched on December 25 last year, although a lumpsum allocation has been made in the Union budget last year.

Since the current financial year is running out, the Centre has given the States nine months to utilise the allocated funds, after which fresh allocations are likely since the Yojana envisages connecting all habitations with a population of over 1,000 persons through good, all-weather roads, by the year 2003 and those with a population of more than 500 persons by the year 2007. In addition to providing connectivity to about one lakh habitations, the programme also aims to upgrade to specifications about five lakh kilometers of existing rural roads.

As per the allocations finalised by the Rural Development Ministry, Madhya Pradesh is to get a sum of Rs. 212.47 crores, Rajasthan Rs. 130.51 crores and West Bengal Rs. 135 crores. About Rs. 149.90 crores have been allocated to Bihar, Rs. 88.58 crores to Chhattisgarh, Rs. 108.18 crores to Jharkand and Rs. 130.81 crores to Maharashtra.

Orissa has been allocated Rs 174.70 crores, Tamil Nadu Rs. 153 crores, Uttar Pradesh Rs. 319.22 crores, Andhra Pradesh Rs. 190 crores and Karnataka Rs. 92 crores. Proposals for the remaining States are expected to be finalised soon, from the total of Rs. 2,500 crores allocated in the 2000-2001 budget for the Yojana.

The allocations to various States have been finalised on a need- based system.

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