Public projects worth over Rs300,000 crore delayed in India

Over 250 central projects worth Rs369,361.6 crore have been delayed due to non-availability of land, paucity of funds, delay in supplies from vendors, and problems in law and order in some states, Parliament was told Thursday. 

"As on April 30, 2011, 560 central sector projects costing Rs150 crore and above were on the monitor of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme implementation out of which 251 projects were delayed with respect to their approved schedule of completion," Minister of State for Statistics Srikant Kumar Jena told the Lok Sabha, in a written reply.

In order to reduce the delays, the government has taken measures including adoption of two-stage clearance system and stricter appraisal of projects before investment approval, he said.

The minister also stressed upon taking up of projects only after funds have been fully tied up and setting up of standing committees by the government in the ministries headed by respective additional secretaries to fix responsibility for time and cost overruns.

The government is following up with the state governments in respect of problems relating to land acquisition, forest clearances and rehabilitation issues, Jena said.