Latest news with #PradhanMantriGramSadakYojana
Hans India
15 hours 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.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Vigilance deptt seizes ₹2.5 cr unaccounted cash, assets from Odisha chief engineer
The Odisha vigilance department on Friday recovered over ₹2 crore in unaccounted cash and other assets from the residences of Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, chief engineer (roads) of rural works division in the state rural development department. The officials said they found the cash, stashed in bundles of ₹500 currency notes, from two houses belonging to Sarangi in Bhubaneswar and Angul. While ₹1.21 crore was recovered from his apartment in Bhubaneswar, another ₹1.30 crore was seized from his Angul residence, amounting to ₹2.5 crore in cash. 'When vigilance officials arrived at Sarangi's residence in Bhubaneswar, he started throwing cash bundles of ₹500 notes through the window of his flat. However, that was later recovered by the vigilance team in the presence of witnesses,' director of state vigilance Yeshwant Jethwa said. Officials also found that Sarangi owned two double storeyed residential buildings in Angul, a flat in Bhubaneswar, one flat in Puri, along with 7 patches of land on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar and Angul. Apart from this, he also had equity investments worth ₹2.70 crore, bank and insurance deposits worth ₹1.5 crore, and a locker maintained at Axis Bank in Angul in the name of his wife. Officials had not opened the bank locker till this report was filed. The rural development department is mandated to provide remote connectivity and construct and maintain government buildings in interior areas. Besides implementing the schemes and programmes in general, the organisation provides emergency support services during natural calamities. Sarangi, who was recently transferred to Bhubaneswar from Angul, was in charge of implementing rural connectivity programmes under different schemes like NABARD, assistance under RIDF, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and other state government schemes. Prior to this, the biggest cash recovery in a disproportionate assets case was ₹3.41 crore, seized from the premises of Kartikeswar Roul, an assistant engineer of the Minor Irrigation Division in Ganjam district, in April 2022. In June 2023, an amount of ₹3.02 crore was recovered during raids on properties of Prasanta Kumar Rout, an Odisha Administrative Service officer.
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.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India's maritime sector to mirror post-1991 road revolution: DCIL CEO
DCIL CEO Durgesh Kumar Dubey Just as roads transformed post-1991, the next 20 years will belong to India's maritime sector, with dredging playing a critical role, said Durgesh Kumar Dubey , deputy chairman of Visakhapatnam Port Authority and managing director and CEO of Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCIL). The Dredging India Conclave 2025, hosted by FICCI, convened leading voices from the maritime and infrastructure ecosystem to discuss the future of dredging and its role in realising India's maritime potential. Speaking at the event, Dubey traced India's infrastructure evolution from post-liberalisation reforms to today's ambitious maritime initiatives. Reflecting on his personal experiences in Indian Railways and national infrastructure growth, he explained how early initiatives like the Golden Quadrilateral and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana laid the groundwork for today's robust logistics and connectivity framework. 'This small program by FICCI is a step forward for a big leap in the maritime sector,' he said. Dubey also highlighted transformative initiatives such as the dedicated freight corridor and the recently announced Rs 25,000 crore maritime development Fund , along with the creation of Sagar Mala Development Corporation Ltd. (now an NBFC), as key enablers of growth in the sector. He cited Visakhapatnam Port as a case study of port-led industrialisation, where strategic port infrastructure catalysed industrial growth attracting major companies like HPCL, RINL, and AMNS. 'Ports like Visakhapatnam have enabled the creation of industrial hubs supported by seamless road, rail, and air connectivity; this is the power of port-led growth,' Dubey said. Highlighting the dual nature of the dredging sector—capital dredging at major ports and smaller maintenance dredging—he said that both are vital for national development. As the head of DCIL, Dubey reaffirmed the company's commitment to expanding its dredger fleet, including the upcoming TSHD Godavari (12,000 m³), and looking beyond India into high-demand regions like the Middle East and Southeast Asia. 'There is a massive demand for dredging capacity, not only from new ports like Vizhinjam in Kerala or Galathea Bay in Nicobar but also from industries building their own captive ports across India,' he added. Dubey drew attention to the untapped potential of inland dredging, especially for reservoirs and canals suffering from siltation, which reduces water holding and flood management capacities. With aging dams across the country, he urged fleet manufacturers and contractors to focus on developing smaller suction and cutter dredgers tailored for inland water bodies. 'This sector is growing fast. With the government's focus on inland silt management, there's recurring demand that can't be ignored. Waterways are the most cost-effective and eco-friendly means of transport and maintaining them is both a business opportunity and a national imperative,' he said. Dubey also mentioned upcoming government meetings with key ministries to align efforts on this front, indicating a coordinated push towards waterway and reservoir dredging. He also made an open call for partnerships and investments in India's dredging sector. He spoke about the need for capable contractors, innovative technologies, and aligned private-public collaboration to achieve national maritime goals. 'DCI is ready to lead, but we need partners—investors, contractors, manufacturers—because without last-mile connectivity and execution support, our collective efforts may fall short,' he concluded. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
