NEW DELHI, Dec 6 � The Centre on Monday revealed that it has received over 40 complaints under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the north-eastern states including Assam, out of which at least nine cases of irregularity were found to be valid.
The complaints that include use of inferior quality of construction of roads, were for the period 2006-2007 till October.
In 26 cases, the complaints have been sent to the respective state governments for enquiry and appropriate action, according to programme guidelines, said Minister of State for Rural Development, Pradeep Jain in a Lok Sabha reply to a question by Rajen Gohain.
In 14 cases, independent National Quality Monitors (NQM) were deputed for enquiry. Out of these, in nine cases irregularities were noticed and these reports have been sent to the states for rectification and appropriate action.
Ensuring the quality of the road works is the responsibility of the state governments, who are implementing the programme. A three-tier quality mechanism has been put in place for ensuring the quality of road works under the programme. First tier is in-house quality control and second tier is independent monitoring at state level. These tiers are the responsibility of the states implementing the programme, the Minister said.
The third tier is envisaged as an independent monitoring mechanism at the Central level and conducted through NQM.
Replying to question on the delay in completion of PMRGSY schemes in the North-east ranging from two months to two years, the Minister said that the sanctioned period for completion of projects is nine working months from the date of issue of work order. The guideline further provides for extension of period up to 12 months in case of projects being adversely affected because of monsoon and other seasonal factors.
