In view of development of semi-hilly areas of the state including District Rupnagar, MLA Advocate Dinesh Chadha on Thursday raised the issue of non-construction of roads under Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana in 16th session of Punjab legislative assembly.
Speaking in the Assembly Dinesh Chadha asked to PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO whether the width of roads to be constructed by the Union Government under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is mandatory to be 10 meters, thus the benefit of this scheme is not being availed in semi hilly areas of State including district Rupnagar.
Punjab Government would take up the matter with the Central Government to reduce the condition of width so that the benefit of this scheme could be availed in these affected areas as well.Chadha further said that in the semi hilly areas of Punjab such wide roads are not available in the hilly areas of State therefore not even a single road could not be constructed under this scheme for last 2-3 years in Rupnagar.
Replying to him, PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the Government of India would be approached to construct roads in the semi hilly areas of Punjab under this scheme and State put up the issue to get exemption in this regard.
With a view to strengthen the road network, Advocate Dinesh Chadha raised another issue in this regard saying that the rural roads which are constructed under the Pardhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna should be repaired for 6 years by the contractors. On the other hand, the roads constructed by the Mandi Board and PWD were repaired with a defect liability period of only 1 year.
Pointing out the need of maintenance of roads, Dinesh Chadha questioned the PWD Minister and asked him if there was any plan in the near future for a contractor to repair the roads for 4, 5, 6, years after constructing it so as to prevent road accidents.