Shimla, Aug 31 (PTI) Outstanding dues owed to contractors by the Public Works Department (PWD) will soon be cleared in a phased manner, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh said on Monday.
Responding to a ‘Calling Attention Motion’ moved under Rule 62 by BJP MLA Randhir Sharma in the state Legislative Assembly, he informed the House that Rs 100 crore has been spent on upgrading, tarring, and maintaining roads in the Sri Naina Devi Ji constituency over the past three years.
He said the remaining work is being completed subject to budget availability.
He said the constituency has 132 roads. Of these, three are main roads, while the remaining 129 are rural roads spanning a total length of 519 kilometre. He said 449 kilometre of these roads are paved.
Addressing the allegations made by Randhir Sharma, Singh said an enquiry would be conducted and action taken against those found guilty if the same work had been executed twice at any location. He said efforts would be made to secure approval for as many rural roads as possible under Phase IV of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) scheme.
He said the government would strive to prepare more Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for areas that currently lack road connectivity. The Public Works Minister dismissed allegations of arbitrary or unfair allocation of road projects under National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) funding, acknowledging that relatively higher funds were allocated for roads in tribal and difficult terrains.
He emphasised that the government is ensuring uniform development across the entire state.
Earlier, MLA Randhir Sharma said his constituency received only Rs 11 crore out of the first instalment of Rs 2,006 crore sanctioned by the Centre for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.
Of this amount, the Public Works Department has spent only Rs 1.47 crore so far, while tenders worth Rs 30.82 lakh have been floated. Tenders have neither been invited nor work awarded for 99 projects involving the remaining Rs 9.32 crore.
He demanded action against the officials responsible for failing to utilise the funds. Randhir Sharma said he had proposed four roads for NABARD funding under the ‘MLA Priority’ scheme, but not a single one was approved. PTI BPL ASD ASD
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