Latest news with #StandingCommitteeonRuralDevelopmentandPanchayatiRaj
Indian Express
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Standing committee flags road construction delay in LWE-hit areas
Flagging slow progress of work in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas, a Parliamentary panel has asked the Ministry of Rural Development to adopt 'sincere innovative ideas' and guide states to ensure that road projects under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in those areas are completed in a time-bound manner. In its report, the Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj said: 'The Committee notes that Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Areas (RCPLWEA), a very important intervention under PMGSY, was launched in 2016… The deadline for the completion of this vertical under PMGSY was March, 2020 which was extended till March, 2025. In this regard, the Committee are concerned to note that out of total of 12,228 km sanctioned road length only 9,523 km is completed as on 14th May, 2025 and length of 2,705 km is still left even after extended deadlines.' While acknowledging the challenges such as insurgency terrain and forest clearance issues, the Committee said bottlenecks can be removed by proper planning and strong coordination. 'Perhaps area specific professionals who are skilled to work in combat and insurgent zones such as Border Road Organisation might serve as a boost,' said the committee headed by Congress member Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
Mint
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Parliamentary panel flags SVAMITVA scheme's slow progress
The Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has flagged the slow progress of the SVAMITVA scheme, which verifies legal ownership of rural residential land through precise mapping and issues property cards to owners. The panel, which has submitted its report to Parliament, noted that achieving full coverage by 2025 may face delays, as 30,000 villages across Indian states and Union territories have yet to be surveyed. The committee, headed by Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Lok Sabha member from Odisha's Koraput, urged the government to accelerate drone surveys and issue property cards by providing targeted technical and logistical support to states. Drone surveys have been completed in nearly 318,000 villages, compared to a target of 346,000 villages. The central government launched the scheme in April 2020 with the primary objective of providing property ownership records to rural households. The scheme's core focus is on surveying rural inhabited lands using drones to prepare detailed maps with ownership details, which will then be digitized and integrated into official land records. The move is expected to help villagers access credit and reduce land-related disputes. According to the initial timeline set up by the ministry of panchayati raj, states and Union territories were expected to complete drone surveys by March 2025 and the preparation of property cards by March 2026. However, the government informed the panel that despite the delay, the work in the remaining villages is likely to be completed by the end of 2025-26. The panel also pointed out that, besides slow implementation, the funds provided by the government are not sufficient. 'The committee also observed that in rural areas, there are so many complications on the title of the property due to joint or undivided families and common and community land ownership by the tribal society,' it said in the report. 'As the legal action is a state subject. These issues need due thought by the government to resolve them in a systematic and within the legal framework. For the purpose, they need to deploy adequately trained, technically and legally qualified persons, adequate funds for implementation of the same,' it added. The committee recommended that a comprehensive timeline be fixed and published state-wise, with the respective state government consulted, and its progress monitored regularly to ensure timely completion.
News18
01-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
BJP MPs Walk Out Of Parliamentary Panel Meet, Objecting To Presence Of Medha Patkar, Prakash Raj
Last Updated: The agenda included the consideration and adoption of two draft reports on government actions by the Department of Land Resources and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj The Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj met in Parliament on Tuesday morning, chaired by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka. However, the meeting soon became contentious over the participation of controversial figures, particularly social activist Medha Patkar. The agenda included the consideration and adoption of two draft reports on government actions by the Department of Land Resources and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. It also featured scheduled oral testimonies from representatives of various ministries, NGOs, and other stakeholders on the implementation of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. top videos View All A committee member later told CNN-News18, on condition of anonymity, 'The chairman is generally known to be fair and soft-spoken. But it appears he was under pressure from the top leadership of his party. Summoning known Gandhi family supporters like Medha Patkar sends the wrong message." The tension culminated in BJP MPs staging a walkout after the chairman insisted on proceeding with testimonies from ten NGO representatives. With their exit, the meeting was adjourned due to a lack of quorum. First Published: July 02, 2025, 03:20 IST
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Business Standard
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
BJP MPs protest parliament panel calling Medha Patkar, meeting cut short
A parliamentary committee meeting ended abruptly on Tuesday as BJP MPs protested against the panel's decision to hear activist Medha Patkar, who has long been accused by the ruling party of working against the country's development interests in the name of public and environmental causes. Former Union minister and BJP MP Parshottam Rupala was joined by other lawmakers from his party as they walked out of the meeting, with some dubbing Patkar as "anti-national". A BJP MP wondered if leaders from Pakistan could also be called at such a meeting. The Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, headed by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, had called Patkar to hear her views on the implementation and effectiveness of the land acquisition law enacted by Parliament when the Congress-led UPA government was in power in 2013. Ulaka defended the decision, telling PTI that it is a standard practice for a parliamentary committee to hear civil society members and other stakeholders on various issues. He added, "We wanted to hear their views on the land acquisition law. We wanted an opinion from everyone, but they (BJP) didn't allow it." A BJP member said their primary objection was to calling Patkar, who was the face of the 'Narmada Bachao Andolan' protest against a determined push by the Gujarat government, headed then by Narendra Modi as chief minister, to raise the height of Sardar Sarovar Dam. The state government's views finally prevailed and Modi, who took over as prime minister in 2014, has often spoken about the efforts to stall the project since its foundation was laid in the 1960s. As the BJP MPs walked out, Ulaka said he decided to end the meeting due to a lack of quorum. He said, "As per rule, a quorum of 10 members is required. When the BJP MPs walked out, there was no quorum, and the meeting ended." According to a source, those invited before the panel included officials from the Environment and Forest Ministry. Activists, including Patkar and Prakash Raj, were also asked to appear before the committee. The source said BJP MPs objected to Patkar appearing before the panel, and called her "anti-national". Another source said a miffed MP also wondered if the prime minister of Pakistan could be called for questioning by the panel. When the meeting started, opposition MPs were of the opinion that Patkar should be heard, to which the BJP MPs did not agree. Asked about the incident, Patkar said she was invited to appear before the panel, and while she and others were waiting, they saw some MPs leave. Later, they were informed that the meeting had ended, she added. Patkar said she has appeared before parliamentary committees earlier as well. "I have never experienced anything like this before. It is important to talk about the land acquisition law," she said.
