States to undertake Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana work from new fiscal: Jairam Ramesh

PATNA: Union Minister Jairam Ramesh today said that state governments will now be entrusted with work related to road construction under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) from new fiscal 2012-2013.

"Central agency will not be involved for work under PMGSY. We have not found any difference in the quality of roads by the state governments and central agencies under PMGSY. State governments will be responsible for implementation of PMGSY from the next financial year," the Union Rural Development Minister told reporters here.

Stating that five central agencies had carried out road construction in Bihar under PMGSY, he said the quality of work, however, was a subject of concern.

His ministry was always eager to assist Bihar, Ramesh said, adding that there was no dispute between the state and the central government on the issue of core network.

Ramesh said the Centre would soon sanction the proposal to construct about 1,200 km of roads, besides bridges in five districts of the state.

All villages with a population of 250 people and above in naxal-hit nine districts would be linked with roads under PMGSY and areas connected with the core network would have roads, he said.

The minister noted that the Maoist problem during the last 20 to 25 years was much less in Bihar than in other states.