Jamui, Feb 13 (PTI) Not satisfied with the quality of roads being constructed under the PMGSY and MNREGA schemes, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today said it was duty of state governments to ensure maintenance of rural roads. "The rural roads constructed under the central flagship schemes (PMGSY and MNREGA) lack quality not only in Bihar, but in other parts of the country as well," he told reporters here. Noting that it was the responsibility of states to maintain rural roads, Ramesh said, their poor condition spoke volumes about the quality of the construction and poor maintenance. He said that the Centre was taking measures on several fronts to ensure that rural roads remained in good condition for a long period and urged the local people to put put pressure on concerned state agencies to ensure their proper maintenance. State governments, he said, had been directed to take measures to ensure upkeep of rural roads. Apparently indicating that there was a need to boost connectivity of rural roads in Bihar, he said that the rural development ministry would spend Rs 46,000 crore under the central flagship schemes in the state in a phased manner. Ramesh, who was here to lay foundation stone and inaugurate 54 rural road projects, announced construction of a seven-km road stretch between Lachuar and Janamsthan - popular Jain religion destinations - in Jamui district under the PMGSY. Describing the proposed road project as a historic step for development of the hilly region, he said that it would help Jain pilgrims between Lachuar and Janamsthan and boost tourism industry in the district.
