Telangana Seeks More PMGSY Funds, Tribal Road Projects and 100% Central Support: Minister Seethakka

Hyderabad: Telangana Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka urged the Central Government to sanction more road works for Telangana under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), especially to improve road connectivity in remote tribal and agency areas.

The minister also demanded that the Centre should bear 100 percent of the PMGSY expenditure like earlier, instead of placing a 40 percent financial burden on states.

She made these requests during the South Indian States PMGSY Regional Meeting held in Hyderabad.

PMGSY Regional Meeting Held in Hyderabad

The regional meeting was attended by Joint Secretary of the Union Rural Development Department Atithi Singh, NRIDA Director General, officials from southern states, Engineers-in-Chief (ENCs), and Chief Engineers (CEs).

During the meeting, Danasari Anasuya Seethakka said PMGSY has improved access to education, healthcare, employment, and markets in rural areas over the last 25 years.

She stated that the scheme is now connecting remote villages and tribal habitations with plain areas.

Telangana Opposes 40 Percent Financial Burden on States

Minister Seethakka said that earlier the Central Government used to bear 100 percent funding under the PMGSY scheme. However, she said the Centre later changed the rules and shifted 40 percent of the burden onto states.

She requested the Centre to review the policy and provide special relaxations for financially backward and geographically difficult states.

Forest and Wildlife Laws Delaying Tribal Road Projects

The minister stated that road permissions in tribal and agency regions such as Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Adilabad, and Asifabad are getting delayed due to forest and wildlife laws.

She requested the Central Government to make favourable changes in forest and wildlife regulations for tribal development and rural transportation facilities.

The minister further said that reconstruction and upgradation works of old roads and culverts in damaged areas are also facing hurdles because of forest rules.

She appealed for easier permissions for such works and expressed concern that recent amendments to forest conservation laws are becoming obstacles to tribal development.

Telangana Using Modern Technology for Rural Infrastructure

Minister Seethakka said the Telangana Government is giving high priority to rural infrastructure development and is using modern technologies in road construction and maintenance.

She added that the state is implementing the Hybrid Annuity Model for maintenance of rural roads.

Telangana Seeks More PMGSY-4 Road Connectivity

The minister said many regions in Telangana still require road connectivity under PMGSY-4.

She urged the Union Rural Development Department to sanction more works so that rural people can easily access markets, schools, hospitals, and development centres.

Centre Responds Positively to Telangana’s Requests

Central representatives responded positively to the requests made by the minister.

Atithi Singh stated that the issues, opinions, and objections raised by the Telangana Government would be reported to the Central Government.

She also said discussions would be held at the central level regarding issues arising from forest and wildlife laws, and measures to speed up works would be examined.

The Centre further assured that the matter related to granting special permissions would also be considered.

Telangana has requested the Central Government to sanction more PMGSY road works, restore 100 percent central funding, and ease forest and wildlife regulations affecting tribal and agency areas. During the PMGSY regional meeting in Hyderabad, Minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka highlighted delays in road projects in Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Adilabad, and Asifabad, while central representatives assured that the issues would be examined and taken up with the Union Government.

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