Centre's negligence delaying PMGSY scheme in Odisha: Minister

The Odisha government today said the state was facing difficulties in completing many road projects due to "delay" in release of funds by the Centre.
"Though we have been trying our best to provide connectivity to all villages in the state, there is no such cooperation from the Centre.
"As the Prime Minister's Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is a 100 per cent centrally funded scheme, we are dependent on the Centre. However, the state did not get the required support," Odisha's rural development minister Badri Narayan Patra said while replying to a debate in the Assembly here.
Justifying his claim, Patra pointed out that though the Centre has sanctioned rural road projects worth Rs 17,814 crore so far, it released only Rs 11,942 crore.

"We are yet to get Rs 5,872 crore from the Centre towards the sanctioned projects," the minister said adding, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had drawn the attention of the Prime Minister twice on the matter.
Patra said Odisha demanded Rs 1,800 crore for construction of 4,000 km road during 2014-15 fiscal, but received only Rs 1,051.50 crore. The state had already spent Rs 1,281 crore towards the PMGSY scheme, he said.

Rejecting opposition's allegation that there was massive corruption and delay in the PMGSY projects, Patra said there was no question of corruption in the Naveen Patnaik regime.
Regarding delay, the minister said non-availability of funds on appropriate time was the reason behind it.

Earlier, Congress member Tara Prasad Bahinipati alleged that the state government has failed to meet the quality, quantity and timing of PMGSY projects.
BJP members also alleged that labourers engaged in the PMGSY projects were denied timely payments.