HP govt to probe incomplete road projects

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh government has decided to probe incomplete road works under Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to fix the responsibility for delay. Chief minister Virbhadra Singh announced this after Himachal Lokhit Party (HL) MLA Maheshwar Singh raised the issue of how delay in according forest clearance to 4.820 km road under PMGSY in Kullu district has escalated its cost.A road that was to be completed at a cost of Rs 1.32 crore now needs another Rs 1.80 crore due to delay in forest clearance.
HLP legislator Maheshwar Singh on Friday had asked from the government about the total number of roads in the state under PMGSY and whether they have reached their final destination. He had also sought details of funds required for the completion of these roads.
Chief minister Virbhadra Singh, who also holds the PWD portfolio, said there are three roads in the state under PMGSY whose construction has been done according to detailed project report (DPR) but they have not reached their destination. He said for the completion of these roads total Rs 523.06 lakh is needed and execution of work would depend on availability of funds.
Maheshwar Singh said that there are many other roads under PMGSY whose information has not been provided. He said that Chhurla-Dugilag road was sanctioned in 2006-07 and its contract was awarded. He said that now it is being said that work is delayed because of forest clearance. "When forest clarance was not received then how the tenders were given," he added.
He said that delay in removing the trees on the part of forest corporation kept the project hanging fire till 2010. He said that when work started in 2010 from the sanctioned fund of 1,32,50,000 for 4.820 km only over 2 km road was constructed. "Now for the remaining work additional Rs 1.80 crore is required because of the fault of forest corporation," he added.
He said that there are two more roads - Dohranala Khadiar and Dohranala Phati Barahar - which are incomplete and yet to reach their destination. He said another road from Chharodnala to Bhren too is incomplete. He said in Kullu district alone around Rs 3 crore is needed for the completion of these roads. Maheshwar Singh demanded action against the official responsible for delay in the completion of these roads works.
Chief minister said that there was no doubt that road completion work had been delayed. He said that trees were not removed in time. He said government would probe the matter and fix responsibility. Virbhadra Singh said that additional funds would be arranged for completion of incomplete roads.