CAG points out faulty implementation of Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
Patna,(BiharTimes): The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said faulty implementation of the Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (MMGSY) in Bihar resulted in 183 villages remaining disconnected.
The latest report of the CAG for the year ending March 31, 2016 also states that several villages which did not meet the MMGSY criteria were connected.
“The MMGSY was implemented without reliable data of unconnected villages as the comprehensive new connectivity priority list for unconnected villages having a population of 500-999 (as per 2001 census) was not available/adhered to. As a result, 183 villages remained unconnected despite an expenditure of Rs 1,398.16 crore, whereas connectivity was provided to ineligible villages,” the CAG report observed.
The report, which was tabled in the Bihar Legislative Assembly by finance minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui on Monday, said the poor functioning of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and the National Rural Drinking Water Programme in Bihar.
The state Rural Works department did not provide connectivity to the selected eligible villages till March 2016 as works remained incomplete or abandoned by contractors, it said.
“Quality controls specified in the guidelines were not ensured and 25 per cent of Action Taken Reports of Mobile Quality Monitoring Units were pending as on March 2016,” the report said.
“Though maintenance works were due in respect of roads constructed till 2014-15, the same was not carried out in 78 per cent of roads,” the CAG
report said.
It said the Social Welfare Department neither identified malnourished/severely nourished children of the state, nor set any target to reduce the prevalence of underweight children, anaemia in the
case of pregnant women/lactating mothers, IMR and MMR during scheme implementation.
“Quality services provided to the beneficiaries were seriously compromised as basic amenities like toilet, drinking water, kitchen, utensils etc in Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) were missing,” it said.
“In addition, 72 per cent of the functional AWCs did not have their own building in Bihar,” the CAG report said.
The National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) could not yield intended results and the population remained affected with arsenic, fluoride and iron contamination as they were not provided with safe drinking water, the report said.
According to the report as a result, 4.67 lakh arsenic, 16.51 lakh fluoride and 79.06 lakh iron affected population remained deprived of safe drinking water despite an expenditure of Rs 609 crore.
