No word from Centre yet on Sadak Yojana, says minister

 Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil said on Wednesday his office was yet to receive a letter from the Union Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Development Ministry, directing the State government to depute honest and efficient officials to the Karnataka Rural Road Development Agency.

Reacting to reports in the media that the Centre had threatened to halt funds to Karnataka for development of rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), if the State government does not depute honest officials to execute the scheme, Patil said, “So far I have not received any letter. But I have told the additional chief secretary RDPR (T M Vijayabhaskar) to keep track of the developments and report to me.”

Official communication

Sources in Patil’s office said once an official communication was received from the Centre, a departmental committee could be constituted to verify whether there have been irregularities in implementing PMGSY.