Parliament Question: Non-adherence of PMGSY Guidelines

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4255 ANSWERED ON 19/08/2025 NON-ADHERENCE OF PMGSY GUIDELINES

4255. Shri M K Raghavan:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Ministry is aware of any violation of guidelines in Kerala, since State Government authorities have instructed to allocate only 60% of sanctioned roads based on the priority list of MPs and the remaining 40% from MLAs for PMGSY-IV;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the guidelines of PMGSY-IV mandates to receive priority list from MLAs other than their suggestions, if so the details thereof;

(d) whether the Ministry has any mechanism to monitor whether the State Government agencies are adhering to the guidelines of the PMGSY during the implementation, if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Ministry is aware that roads under construction in PMGSY-III in Kozhikode LokSabha Constituency have not had any formal foundation laying ceremonies conducted by the State Government authorities;

(f) if so, the steps taken by the Ministry regarding this violation of the guidelines; and

(g) the manner in which environmental compliance being monitored during the project execution? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a) to (c): Detailed guidelines have been issued for implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) IV. As per the guidelines, the District Rural Roads Plan (DRRP) is to be updated and the draft Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List (CNCPL) of the unconnected habitations is to be generated keeping in Page 1 of 3view the suggestions received from Hon'ble Members of Parliament.

As per para 5.5 of the programme guidelines of PMGSY IV, after the CNCPL is prepared and verified it shall be placed before the District Panchayat. The Hon'ble Member of Parliament/ MLAs shall be given a copy of the CNCPL and their suggestions and the suggestions of lower level Panchayati Raj institutions shall be given fullest consideration by the District Panchayat while according its approval.

Further as per para 5.6 of programme guidelines of PMGSY I, after approval of CNCPL by the District Panchayat, the proposals would be forwarded by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) to the State Rural Roads Development Agency (SRRDA). The PIU will, at that time prepare the details of proposals forwarded by the Hon'ble Members of Parliament in Proforma MP-1 with their consent, and action taken thereon in Proforma MP-II indicating the prioritization and other details, and send it along with the proposals. In all cases where the proposal of a Hon'ble Member of Parliament has not been included, cogent reasons shall be given based on the reasons given by the District Panchayat in MP-II format itself.

Also, as per para 5.7 of programme guidelines the SRRDA shall vet the proposals to ensure that they are in accordance with the Guidelines and shall place them before the State-level Standing Committee (SLSC) along with the MP-1 and MP-II Statements.

As per 5.8 of programme guidelines, the SLSC would scrutinize the proposals to see that they are in accordance with the guidelines and that the proposals of the Hon'ble Members of Parliament have been given full consideration. In all cases where the proposals of Hon'ble Members of Parliament have not been included, cogent reasons shall be given to them and these shall be recorded in the proceedings of the SLSC. After scrutiny by the SLSC, the PIUs will prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for each proposed road work.

No proposal under PMGSY IV has been submitted by the State Government of Kerala to the Ministry so far. The proposals are submitted in feasible batches by the States to the Central Government for according sanction. The timeline for implementation of PMGSY IV is till March, 2029.

(d): Yes, the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) prepared by the State are duly scrutinized by National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) which are then placed before Empowered Committee chaired by Secretary, Department of Rural Development to review the institutional preparedness, Technical Page 2 of 3and Quality issues as per PMGSY Programme Guidelines. The Ministry has also requested the States that the SLSC should examine compliance with programme guidelines such as consultation with Hon'ble Members of Parliament. The States are also required to upload on OMMAS the MP-I and MP-II formats indicating the proposals received from the Hon'ble Members of Parliament and the action taken thereupon, respectively.

(e) & (f): As per circular dated 28.07.2011 issued by Ministry, all elected representatives associated with the programme should be duly invited to the foundation laying and inauguration ceremonies.

Also, it states that the foundation stone be laid and the road should also be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Member of Parliament

(LokSabha) with the function presided over by the local Minister or other dignitary as per State Protocol. This advisory has been reiterated to the States on 3rd February, 2022.

In Kozhikode District, out of total Road length of 392 Km sanctioned under various interventions of PMGSY, 342 Km has already completed. The Ministry does not maintain constituency wise project details. The State of Kerala has informed that since most of the works in Kozhikode LokSabha Constituency are nearing completion, steps will be taken for conducting the inauguration of the roads.

(g): As PMGSY roads are generally constructed in rural areas, there is usually no requirement to obtain NOC from Environmental Department. The PMGSY encourages States to use new/ green technologies such as cold-mix, waste plastic in surface course, Full- Depth Reclamation, etc. which conserve use of raw materials/ natural resources. However, in cases where the proposed road alignment traverses forest land/ protected areas, the necessary NOC is obtained from the Forest Department as per law.

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