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Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
PMGSY funds being siphoned off by Trinamool leaders: Amit Malviya slams Mamata govt
Kolkata: BJP's Information Technology Cell chief and the party's central observer for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, on Tuesday, issued a statement seeking to clarify that the Centre was forced to stop the release of fresh funds under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) scheme to the Mamata government due to blatant siphoning of funds given earlier to the state. 'Mamata Banerjee's West Bengal is slipping into helplessness and despair. Recently, she questioned why the central government has stopped allocating funds to the state under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The answer is straightforward - those funds were being siphoned off by Trinamool leaders instead of being used for public welfare,' Malviya's statement, which he posted on his official X handle, read. Substantiating his claims, Malviya quoted the example of how funds under the PMGSY scheme were blatantly misused at Daspur in the West Midnapore district. According to him, after the roads at Daspur were completely destroyed by the 2018 floods due to overflowing Kangsabati and Kansai Rivers, not a single repair work has been done there in these six years He also claimed that repeated letters and urgent appeals from residents have fallen on deaf ears, thus forcing them to travel by boat for three to four months a year. 'For the rest of the year, they must walk through slush fields, risking life and limb. In medical emergencies, the sick are tied to bamboo poles and carried to ambulances on foot - like it's still the 18th century. This is the grim reality of governance under Trinamool Congress,' Malviya's statement read. The BJP leader further argued that the example of Daspur shows that the plight of the people was not because of the lack of funds but because of misuse, corruption, and complete disregard for the common people. 'West Bengal deserves better,' Malviya's statement read. To recall, Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, and then the Union Home Minister on Sunday, while addressing their political rallies in Alipurduar and Kolkata respectively, launched scathing attacks against the West Bengal government and the ruling Trinamool Congress on the issue of corruption. Both of them claimed that the common people of West Bengal were denied the basic and minimum services because of the blatant corruption in the system steered by Trinamool Congress leaders at all levels.
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
New Congress chief in Himachal shouldn't be a rubber stamp: Minister Vikramaditya Singh
Himachal Pradesh Cabinet Minister Vikramaditya Singh Monday said that the next state Congress chief should not be a 'rubber stamp' but a strong, mass leader with clout in at least three to four districts. 'The decision lies with the high command, but in my view, the next party chief must be a tall leader who commands respect and influence on his own. The Congress in Himachal Pradesh needs young blood and a leadership which is not just symbolic. The new party chief shouldn't be remote-controlled,' Vikramaditya said. The remarks come days after Vikramaditya termed Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri as 'one of the tallest Congress leaders who never lost from his Haroli seat in Una'. Vikramaditya had then reacted to a Facebook post by Agnihotri wherein the Deputy CM had said, 'Times of conspiracies are on while falsehood doesn't hold ground'. According to party insiders, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is pitching for new party chief of his choice. Interacting with the media persons at his office, Vikramaditya expressed concerns over 'delay' in the reconstitution of disbanded party units. 'Incumbent party chief Pratibha Singh has taken up this issue with the high command several times,' he said. The son of six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh, Vikramaditya recalled that his mother Pratibha Singh was appointed party president in a challenging political situation in 2021. To a specific query, Vikramaditya said only the party high command can decide if Pratibha Singh would continue as party state chief or a new president will be appointed. The PWD minister further said he would speak to the central leadership for early appointment of the state party chief. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge had on November 6, 2024 dissolved the Pradesh Congress Committee in Himachal Pradesh along with the district and block units with immediate effect, but allowed Pratibha Singh to continue as party president till further orders. A section of Congress leaders is said to be unhappy with the working of the state government — an issue that Pratibha Singh too had flagged earlier asking for a better coordination with party unit and its dispensation. Pratibha Singh had also several times in the past sought posts for hardworking and loyal party workers. Talking about development issues, Vikramaditya said, 'A comprehensive strategy is being implemented to accelerate projects under the Public Works and Urban Development departments. A recent high-level meeting reviewed the progress of schemes under Phase IV of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Himachal is leading the country in uploading DPRs and aims to construct 1,500 km of roads, but a delay in the availability of land could reduce the target to 400-500 km'. He said a performance index is being introduced in the PWD divisions to evaluate work efficiency. 'To ensure accountability, PWD divisions have been classified into red, yellow, green and non-performing zones. Strict action, including blacklisting and chargesheets, will be taken against underperformers,' the PWD minister said. Vikramaditya also spoke on the trade and tourism boycott of Turkey for their support of Pakistan in the conflict with India. 'I would also speak to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to ban Turkey-based companies and joint ventures as Turkey had openly supported Pakistan during the recent war between India and Pakistan,' he said.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Himachal Pradesh to achieve 1,500km road target if land made available in time: Minister Vikramaditya Singh
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh public works minister Vikramaditya Singh said on Monday that the state govt was poised to achieve its ambitious target of constructing 1,500km roads, provided there was cooperation from local communities and panchayats. At the same time, he also stated that the target could be curtailed to 400–500 km in the absence of timely land availability and local support. The minister said Himachal Pradesh is leading the nation in uploading detailed project reports (DPRs) under Phase IV of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The minister added a comprehensive strategy was being adopted to expedite the implementation of development projects under the public works and urban development departments. He added a high-level review meeting was recently held with senior officers, engineers, and executive officers of the urban development department, PWD, and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Highlighting delays in forest clearances and non-registration of land, the minister said a joint meeting under the chairmanship of the CM was being planned with the panchayati raj and rural development departments. Land identification and acquisition would be accelerated with the involvement of local representatives and the district administration, he added. To ensure accountability, PWD divisions have been classified into four zones: red, yellow, green, and non-performing. Strict action, including charge sheets and blacklisting, would be taken against underperforming officers and contractors, the minister clarified.
India Gazette
19-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Himachal Minister Vikramaditya Singh warns action over poor dept work, says inefficient contractors to be blacklisted
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 19 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Monday raised concerns over the underperformance of certain departments despite significant funding received by the state. 'I am concerned that we are getting so much money in the state, despite that, the performance of our department has its shortcomings in many places,' Singh said while addressing the media in Shimla. Highlighting key issues, he pointed to delays in obtaining land and Forest Conservation Act (FCA) clearances as major obstacles in project execution. 'Land is not available in many places; the FCA has not worked on time due to the clearance of the case,' he noted. The minister also cited inefficiency among contractors and department officials as reasons for poor performance. 'I saw that the performance is not up to the mark because of inefficient contractors, or our department officials and engineers,' he said, referring to his recent state-wide review meetings. To improve accountability, Singh said he has instructed officials to introduce a performance indicator system. 'I have ordered that performance indicators be made: red, green and yellow,' he stated. Issuing a warning, he added, 'I have clearly told them that where performance is not good, action will be taken against them. Contractors will be blacklisted.' Meanwhile, the Public Works Department (PWD) Minister of the Himachal Pradesh government, Vikramaditya Singh, said that the department was all set to start the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) stage four once it was approved by the Union government. After meeting the Union ministers during his recent visit to Delhi, he addressed a press conference in Shimla. Singh detailed Himachal Pradesh's progress under the PMGSY, highlighting key milestones achieved in road infrastructure in rural and remote areas of the state. 'Our government made sustained efforts to strengthen the road network across Himachal, especially in remote and backward regions where all-weather connectivity was crucial,' Singh said. He reported that under PMGSY-III, 3,100 kilometres of roads and 43 bridges had already been sanctioned, with projects spread across Mandi, Kangra, and Hamirpur districts. 'We executed PMGSY-III projects worth Rs 345 crore. Our goal was to complete these within 18 months. Already Rs 802 crore had been spent, and by the end of 2024-25, Rs 650 crore more was expected to be utilised out of the Rs 905 crore budget,' he said. Singh further shared that meetings with the Minister of State for Rural Development had yielded positive responses. (ANI)
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Contractors to get notice over poor road work
Udupi: The concrete roads built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) have deteriorated, and their maintenance period expired. Typically, concrete roads should last 15 years, but complaints are arising about roads being damaged within six or seven years, Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Kota Shrinivas Poojary said, and instructed officials to issue notices to the concerned contractors and have the roads MP spoke while chairing the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting at Udupi zilla panchayat in Manipal on Tuesday. A budget of Rs 1,412 crore was sanctioned for national highway development works in the district. He emphasised the need to quickly complete the land acquisition process for ongoing projects like Hebri, Parkala, and the highway from Karavali Junction to Malpe, and to promptly compensate the affected parties to expedite the work. He noted that gathering necessary materials beforehand would help in completing projects urged officials to effectively implement the schemes and programmes introduced by the central govt for the district's development and the welfare of the general public. The Jal Jeevan Mission , which aims to provide piped water connections to rural areas, should be undertaken scientifically. In some areas, it is essential to carry out work on forest land, and approvals from the forest department should be obtained promptly to prioritise these projects. He also called for the forest department's cooperation in these drinking water projects were not undertaken due to other issues, causing inconvenience to the public. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo These should be prioritised, and taluk panchayat officials should oversee the resolution of these problems and ensure progress. Complaints about substandard work are being received, and responsible officials will be held accountable if projects are found to be lacking, he should be given to the development of the Koraga community residing in the forest fringes of the district. They do not come forward to apply for any govt schemes. More than 182 settlements in the district are home to this community. Efforts should be made to reach them with ration cards, Aadhaar cards, Ayushman Bharat cards, and other govt schemes. The progress of house construction projects approved under the housing programme for them should be accelerated, he meeting was attended by MLAs Yashpal Suvarna, Gurme Suresh Shetty, Kiran Kumar Kodgi, and Gururaj Shetty Gantihole, deputy commissioner K Vidya Kumari, and zilla panchayat CEO Prateek Bayal.
