Land acquisition, environment clearance delaying road projects

Land acquisition and environment clearance are among the key factors that are delaying construction of strategic roads in border areas, government today said.
"There are certain delays in execution of road projects mainly due to the delay in land acquisition, forest/wildlife clearance, hard rock stretches and difficulties in availability of construction materials," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
Chief secretaries of various states have been requested to constitute Empowered Committees under their chairmanship with Secretaries of concerned departments as members to resolve issues related to land acquisition, forest/wildlife clearance, allotment of quarries, according to the reply.

Parrikar informed that 73 roads are identified as strategic Indo-China border roads (ICBR) out of which 61 roads have been entrusted to Border Roads Organisation (BRO) with a length of 3,410 km which were planned to be completed by 2012.
Out of 61 ICBRs with BRO, 19 roads of length 625 km have been completed and connectivity has achieved on 24 roads, he added.
Parrikar further said that resources are diverted due to natural disaster like flash flood of Leh in 2010, Jammu and Kashmir flood in 2013, and earthquake in 2011.

A series of steps are being taken to expedite the pace of road projects.

He said Environment Ministry has given the general approval under Section 2 of forest conservation Act, 1980 for diversion of forest land required for construction/widening of roads entrusted to BRO in the area falling within 100 km aerial distance from the LAC and for link roads between border roads in the area within 100 km aerial distance from the LAC and National Highways/state highways/other roads subject to certain conditions.
He further said that enhanced financial and administrative powers have been given to the executives of BRO.