How Bharat Nirman has crumbled

Recent official figures released by the government suggest that in case of irrigation,the target for four years from 2005-2009 was 10 million hectares,but progress was made in only 6.518 million hectares. The progress in the last two years is even worse as government could cover only 2.9 million hectares against the target of 5.7 million.

The water resources ministry,the nodal authority for implementing the programme,blames it on tardy land acquisition process by the states and their failure to contribute a matching share of the funds. Sources say environment and forests ministry was also responsible for delayed clearance of the projects.

The rural road component of the ambitious flagship programme under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has not fared well either. Against a target of 3,40,316 kilometres in the last four years (2005-09) the Centre has barely managed to construct 2,40,424 kilometres. Similarly for 2007-09 against a target of 2,23,577 km,only 1,52,742 kilometres could be constructed. The rural development ministry,which is implementing it,says this was because of slow land acquisition and critical law and order problems in some states. It also blames the tardy progress on contractual problems and delayed environment clearances.

The telecom ministry has emerged as the worst performer. Sources say against a target of providing telephone connectivity to 32,518 villages between 2007-09,it could cover only 10,212. The ministry has blamed non-availability of satellite transponders. The power ministry could not electrify nearly 50,000 villages targeted in last two years of the previous regime and managed to electrify only 24,000 villages.

However,in case of rural housing and drinking water,achievements are beyond the targets. The government achieved providing potable water in 6,58,000 villages against a target of 6,03,000 in the last four years. Against a target of 60,00,000 houses,government provided approximately 72,00,000.