TIMELY COMPLETION OF PROJECTS UTMOST PRIORITY:
VIJAY GOEL
The Minister of State
for Statistics and Programme Implementation and Prime Minister's
Office Shri Vijay Goel has announced that timely completion of
projects will be the utmost priority of the Government. Responsibility
and accountability will be fixed for the delay at the appropriate
level and incentive will be provided for completion before the
schedule.
Addressing
a press conference here today, the Minister mentioned that he
is undertaking a tour to Gujarat, Maharashtra and Chennai to inspect
projects related to Ministries of Surface Transport, Petroleum
& Natural Gas and Railways to avoid long time over-run and
ensure its timely completion.
There
are 455 identified projects with an investment of Rs. 20 crore
and more, spanning 16 ministries, with an overall cost of Rs.
2,24,075 crore. Of these, 6 projects are ahead of schedule, 147
projects are on schedule, and 151 projects are delayed. There
are about 71 projects, which are in the advanced stages of completion
but are held up for small problems. During the last year, 96 projects
were completed at a cost of nearly Rs. 20,000 crore and about
400 projects are likely to be completed by the close of 2008.
Shri
Goel told the
mediapersons that some of the important reasons for delay in the
execution of projects are fund constraints, delay in land acquisition
and award of contracts, lack of latest management techniques and
law and order problems. He said that he intends to take measures
for smooth monitoring and early completion of projects. These
include, release of Standard Contract Management System, tabling
a Bill for the approval of the Parliament to bring modifications
in the land acquisition act and provide standard rehabilitation
package, regular inter ministerial co-ordination meeting for resolving
problems of inter-ministerial nature and focus attention
on 28 major projects contributing nearly 93% overall cost overrun
in all projects.
The
Minister also emphasized that some of the projects, which are
at the advanced stages of execution, will be taken up at his level,
to remove critical problem, if any. He would associate and encourage
site visits by independent agencies. Elected local representatives
may be associated in the Project Review Committee of each project
in that area. Provision of making
institutional
arrangement for having a regular Standing Committee for monitoring
of projects right from the beginning till completion, will also
be considered. CMDs of mega projects will be invited at regular
intervals to ensure timely completion of projects and discuss
problems requiring inter-ministerial coordination.
The
minister recalled that a Workshop-cum-Exhibition on MP Local Area
Development Scheme (MPLADS) was organized in August 2002 in the
Parliament House Annexe, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister
and attended by approximately 200 MPs. It was noted with satisfaction
that the overall utilization of MPLADS funds had increased from
54% in 1998 to 74% in 2002. There were, however, wide inter-state
variations in the percentage utilization of released funds. A
workbook was devised for keeping records of progress of the projects
recommended by the MPs. Shri Goel said that many suggestions were
received from the Members of Parliament, which are being considered
for early implementation. However, the emphasis of the scheme
will remain on building up of assets for community’s utilization.
The
Secretary, Additional Secretary and other senior officers of the
ministry were also present at the occasion.
