"Among these, progress in the four fields of rural telephony, water supply, housing and coverage of new roads under the rural roads programme exceeded the target," a press handout issued by the PMO said.
Though there was a shortfall in the targets achieved in the rural electrification substantial gains were made in this field as well. Bharat Nirman seeks to cover all villages in India with electricity, all weather roads, potable water, electricity and telephones by 2009. In addition 60 lakh new houses are to be constructed and one crore hectares brought under irrigation.
"Under rural roads 18,708 kilometers were constructed against a target of 15,492 km. Under rural telephony so far 30,251 villages out of 66,822 stand covered. And for rural water supply, under the category of slipped back habitations, against a target of 34,373 habitations 70,416 were covered.
The target for the uncovered habitations was 11,879 against which 11,526 were covered. In the area of rural housing against a target of 15 lakh houses for 2005-06, 15.41 lakh houses were constructed," the note said.
Though 10,000 villages were to be electrified in 2005-2006 but only 9,819 villages could get the electricity connections. In the next two years the target has been increased to 40,000 villages per year.
The prime minister has directed the Planning Commission to organise a separate meeting for him with the chief ministers of these states during the ensuing National Development Council meet to request them to act on these programmes with urgency so that all targets are achieved on schedule.
