Dispur faces Delhi flak for shoddy work A STAFF REPORTER TELEGRAPH INDIA A health camp in Assam. A file picture Guwahati, Feb. 15: Dispur today came under fire from the Centre for poor implementation of centrally-sponsored schemes under the Bharat Nirman programme.
The Centre's displeasure was conveyed at a high-level review meeting chaired by cabinet secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar at the chief minister's conference hall here. The meeting observed that the programme, which was to be completed next year, had been delayed. Assam's utilisation of funds under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana was only 40 per cent till the last half-yearly performance review. After the meeting, a senior state official said Assam had achieved only 10 per cent of the target of road connectivity during the period, covering only 7.94 per cent of the targeted habitation. Against the overall target (2005-09) covering 9,132 habitations, 1,225 (13.41 per cent) have been connected during the review period. Till the end of December 2007, Assam was able to complete 229.02km of road connectivity against the target of connecting 3889.85km. The primary objective of the scheme is to provide connectivity by way of an all-weather road to the rural areas. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is a 100 per cent centrally-sponsored scheme. In 2007-08, the state provided clean drinking water to 6,550 habitations against a targeted 14,220 habitations. Under the Indira Awas Yojana, Assam's target during 2007-08 was to provide 149,593 dwelling units. The state, however, managed to provide only 9,906 units which is only 6.62 per cent. Under the scheme, Assam could utilise 5.45 per cent of the total funds allocation. The central delegation pointed out that the state government had failed to launch any new irrigation project. The state's performance under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan too was found unsatisfactory, sources said. Assam's performance under the National Rural Health Mission was the only silver lining for the state. The central team has asked Dispur to better its performance.
