The fourth phase of ambitious initiative ’PMGSY’ would soon be launched in Jammu and Kashmir to connect the left out areas.
This information was given in a meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Chowdhary.
The meeting was attended by Director Union Ministry of Rural Development, Reena Nazar, Director Finance R&B Mazhar Hussain, Chief Engineers PMGSY Jammu/ Kashmir and other senior officers of PMGSY-IV.
“The implementation of PMGSY in J&K, since its launch in December, 2000 has helped immensely in improving the income of rural masses. While nearly 99.5% of the eligible habitations have been provided all weather connectivity under PMGSY-I as per Census 2001. Some habitations that have acquired substantial size in recent past due to rural growth and socio-economic progress require connectivity through allweather roads”, maintained the Deputy Chief Minister. He said that these habitations could not be covered and needed special intervention and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir has been actively pursuing the launch of phase IV of PMGSY in the Union Territory.
The meeting was told that on persistent demand from J&K, the Union Ministry of Rural Development, (MoRD) has proposed to launch PMGSY-IV to provide all weather connectivity to rural populace considering census 2011 as the basis for eligibility of unconnected habitations.
The Deputy Chief Minister directed the officers to ensure that no eligible habitation as per 2011 census is left un mapped and the requisite survey be completed in consonance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry in this regard.
The meeting was informed that, out of the 1500, survey for 700 habitations having population of more than 250 as per 2011 census has been completed.
It was also given out that the Union Cabinet has approved the PMGSY-IV on 11th September, 2024 to connect unconnected rural habitations which have become eligible in view of their population increase as per census, 2011 which shall be implemented from 2024-25 to 2028-29.
The meeting was also told that the Ministry has also launched Mobile App named as “PMGSY Gram Sadak App” for digital mapping of unconnected habitations of PMGSY-IV. Accordingly, the department has initiated finalising the alignment of the road project for providing connectivity to the eligible habitations as per 2011 Census by using PMGSY Gram Sadak App.