Ensure benefits of ERA, PMGSY schemes reach public quickly: CM

Expressing satisfaction over positive change in the functioning of Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah has emphasized on responding to the challenges of quick delivery in order to realize targets of public sector infrastructure.
The Chief Minister said this while reviewing achievements and progress under ERA and Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) at a high-level meeting, here today.
Chief Secretary Mr. S. S. Kapur, Financial Commissioner, Planning and CEO, ERA, Mr. S. L. Bhat, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Commissioner/Secretary, Finance, Mr. Sudhanshu Pandey, Commissioner/Secretary, Forests, Mr. Shant Manu, Commissioner/Secretary, R&B, Mr. Mehboob Iqbal, Secretary, Revenue, Mr. Ajaz Iqbal, besides various Chief Engineers and senior officers attended the meeting.
The Chief Minister said he will visit the under-implementation project sites to take firsthand stock of the pace of work. “Our objective should be to complete targets within stipulated timeframe and ensure benefits of the schemes reach public quickly”, he said.
Mr. Abdullah also recalled that during his first tours of the two capital cities, he had found people unhappy with the slow progress on various ERA projects and felt that a new dynamism was required to be infused into the Agency. “I am happy that professionalism and commitment has been restored to ERA”, he said.
Chief Minister said PMGSY provides for connecting far-off and inaccessible habitations and a comprehensive approach is required to achieve this goal. He said impetus should be given to completion of these schemes and procedural delays should be avoided on account of sanctioning, tendering and launching works on ground. “People have expectations from this government and we must deliver to fulfil their aspirations”, he asserted.
Mr. Kapur called for prioritizing works and ensuring completion of the schemes within the prescribed timeframe. He said while identifying schemes for implementation under PMGSY, locals should also be consulted so that no habitation is left out. He said it should be ensured that no unconnected village remains out of the purview of this prestigious scheme.
Mr. S. L. Bhat stated that 35.37 per cent progress on financial side and 31.91 per cent achievements on physical targets have been achieved on all ERA projects by May 2009. He said 78-km road length has been blacktopped and four bridges made trafficable in Kashmir division and 40-km road length blacktopped in Jammu division under ERA schemes. He said 68-km pipeline has been laid and 13 per cent drainage completed in Kashmir division while as 25 tube-wells have been commissioned and 180-km pipeline laid in Jammu division. Besides, 16 sanitation and 50 per cent drainage projects have also been commissioned.
Mr. Bhat said new initiatives and reforms have been introduced in the functioning of ERA to streamline procedures regarding contract extensions, variations, CV evaluation, coordination between ERA and line departments at ground level and mobilization of consultants.
The meeting was informed that ERA is implementing 74 infrastructure rehabilitation projects in the State involving an expenditure of over Rs.1136.22 crore. The Agency, under its transport sector, has taken up 50 road and bridge projects for improvement and up-gradation at a cost of Rs. 645.28 crore for 627-km of roads.
Under its urban sector, ERA is implementing 24 projects estimating Rs. 490 crore to augment drinking water supply and improving and upgrading drainage and sanitation systems in the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar.
Giving details about PMGSY, Mr. Iqbal said over 4,000 habitations are being linked to main roads under PMGSY in the State. He said these have been grouped into three priority zones. The habitation with the population of over 1,000 fall in the Priority Zone One, habitation with the population between 500 and 999 is in the Priority Zone Second and the habitation with the population of 250 to 499 persons come under Priority Zone Third.
Mr. Iqbal also gave a resume of the targets and achievements of Bharat Nirman Programme. He said out of the 920 habitations sanctioned to be covered under the programme, 250 habitations have so far been connected while as the target for 2009-10 has been fixed at 400.