Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 21: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and top officials of Defence, Home, Planning and Rural Development Department, Government of India today held a high level review of major projects of Jammu and Kashmir, which have been undertaken by the State under Prime Minister’s Re-construction Plan (PMRP).
In a major boost to the projects under the PMRP, the Union Government has given nod to extension of the Re-construction Plan, launched in 2004 by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as head of UPA-I, till 2015-16. Earlier, the PMRP had been extended till 2013-14.
The Government of India was likely to approve Rs 600 crore for the State Government under the PMRP for current financial year of 2013-14.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the high level review meeting of the PMRP was attended by Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Pulok Chatterji, Defence Secretary, Shashikant Sharma, Home Secretary-designate, Anil Goswami, Planning Department Secretary, Sindhushree Khullar, Rural Development Secretary S Vijay Kumar and Secretary (Co-ordination) in Cabinet Secretariat Alok Rawat.
Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey led the State delegation that comprised Principal Secretary, Planning and Development Department, BR Sharma, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Finance Department, BB Vyas, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, Arun Kumar Mehta, Commissioner/ Secretary, Works Department, Tanveer Jehan and some other officials of Planning and Finance Departments.
Sources said the major projects, undertaken in the State sector in the PMRP which were reviewed at the high level meeting included, sewerage, Mughal road, Dal, Nigeen, Wullar, Surinsar and Mansar lakes, Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses, power projects and other works being executed under the PMRP.
The meeting was confined to PMRP works under the State sector. The PMRP has two components-State sector and Central sector. Majority of funds were being disbursed on construction of power projects in the State under the Central sector.
While works on Dal lake were nearing completion, Mughal road project was likely to be completed this year. Other projects under the PMRP could take some more time, the State delegation said.
Sources said the Government of India officials reportedly voiced concern over non-utilisation of PMRP funds by the State Government during 2011-12 that led to reduction of funds for 2012-13. They called for speedy completion of all the works and assured that they would take up with the Planning Commission of India the release of funds, which were withheld during last financial year.
The Union of India officials got detailed appraisal of the progress of projects under the PMRP in the State sector. The State delegation gave details on the works executed on projects, projected deadlines for their completion and new projects, which the State would be taking up during current financial year.
Sources said the Government of India has agreed to extend the PMRP till 2015-16. The thrice extended PMRP was scheduled to end in 2013-14. It was early this year the Centre had extended the PMRP till the completion of current financial year i.e. 2013-14.
They added that the State would get Rs 600 crores under the PMRP during 2013-14. Of this amount, the State was likely to utilise Rs 122.56 crores for rehabilitation of dwellers of Dal and Nigeen lakes and Rs 477.44 crores on Counterpart Fund of Asian Development Bank (ADB)-II.
Sources said the Union of India officials stressed upon reduction in T&D losses in the State, which were hovering between 60 to 65 per cent though they have been brought down from 70 per cent. The State delegation assured the Central officials that all out efforts were being made to reduce T&D losses and they would need more Central help in this regard.
During 2011-12, the State had been allocated Rs 1207 crores under the PMRP but it could utilised less than half of the amount, a result of which, it was allocated Rs 700 crores only during 2012-13. However, some of the funds were withheld in the last financial year, an issue that the State delegation took up with the Central team.
For 2013-14, the State would be receiving Rs 600 crores. In addition, the State has also staked claim for re-validation of the funds, which were not released last year. The PMRP funds are non-lapsable.
Sources said the extension of PMRP till 2015-16 would help the State a long way in completion of under execution projects and take up more projects in hand.
During 2012-13, out of Rs 700 crores given to the State under the PMRP, the Government had earmarked Rs 195.24 crore on strengthening of Transmission and Distribution (T&D) network and Rs 105.29 crore for further construction, upgradation and other works on Mughal Road.
The Government was of the view that reduction of T&D losses would help the State improve its power scenario. The State had to incur nearly Rs 4000 crores on power purchase and suffer a loss to the tune of nearly Rs 2500 crores due to less power generation.
Other works undertaken last fiscal under the PMRP included rehabilitation of dwellers within Dal and Nigeen lakes (Rs 233.82 crore) and construction of 5242 two room tenements for Kashmiri migrants (Rs 45.65 crore).
The Government had kept a provision of Rs 120 crore for Counterpart Fund and Asian Development Bank (Part-II).
While Dal lake works were close to completion, Mughal road works were likely to be completed in the current financial year. Some of the works undertaken by the Economic Re-construction Agency (ERA) and under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) were apace while works on reducing T&D losses were expected to take some more time, sources said.
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