Population criteria a hurdle in building roads in tribal areas

The criteria set in the Prime Minister’s Rural Road Yojana-IV (PMGSY-IV) has become a cause of concern in Lahaul and Spiti district. The scheme, which sets a minimum population criterion of 250 persons for road connectivity, has been viewed as a major hurdle in ensuring road access for the villages in this remote district.

Given the unique geography and low population density of the area, local representatives, including Lahaul and Spiti MLA Anuradha Rana, have urged the state government to take up the matter with the Central government.

Anuradha Rana pointed out that the population criteria of 250 persons, as mandated by the Ministry of Rural Development under the PMGSY-IV, is an impediment in addressing needs of tribal districts like Lahaul and Spiti, where many villages have populations far lower than the required number. The MLA stressed that the lack of road connectivity is a key issue for the residents, as it hampers access to essential services, economic opportunities and overall development in these geographically isolated areas.

The Central government’s current guideline, which was last updated in December 2024, adheres to the 2011 Census data and is intended to prioritise settlements with a population of 250 or more. However, the Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh clarified that this criterion, while effective in many parts of the country, may not be suitable for regions like Lahaul and Spiti, where population density is significantly lower due to the harsh terrain and scattered settlement patterns.

Rana also raised this issue in the Vidhan Sabha recently. She urged the state government to raise the issue with the central authorities and request an exemption or revision of the population criterion for tribal districts. The MLA argued that the existing rule significantly limits the scope of the PMGSY-IV in these areas, preventing many villages from receiving the road infrastructure they desperately need.

The PWD Minister acknowledged the concern raised by the MLA and confirmed that the issue is being reviewed. He indicated that the government is considering appealing to the Central government to explore possible adjustments to the current guidelines to accommodate the unique demographic and geographic challenges of tribal districts. The suggestion of a revised population criterion could ensure that even small tribal settlements, which are typically underpopulated, receive the much-needed road access and infrastructure under the scheme.

Himachal Tribune