Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the labour component of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) should be dovetailed with the construction of roads in the state. Chairing a meeting here to review the progress made under PMGSY in the state,Omar asked the Roads and Buildings Department to start with some pilot projects where labour component under MGNREGA would be utilised for earth work and similar other components in the schemes of the department. This would at one hand ensure wage employment to people in rural and remote areas and on the other reduce the cost of schemes considerably, the Chief Minister said. Taking stock of the e-tendering practice of PMGSY,the Chief Minister underlined its efficacy for bringing transparency and reducing the chances of malpractices. He said e-procurement is another aspect requiring proper propagation in all the departments particularly those largely connected with purchase of materials for construction purposes. Omar said besides Works Department,Power and other departments should follow the practice making e-tendering and e-procurement order of their departmental functioning. The Chief Minister also directed for third party monitoring of the schemes to get independent analysis of various aspects of physical and financial achievements and other relevant factors of work done. Against the expenditure of Rs 300 crore under PMGSY last year,the spending this year is likely to be to the tune of Rs 700 crores,an official spokesman said.
