Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 25: In what could be termed as scant regard to the repeated instructions and directives from various quarters, Utilization Certificates (UCs) of over Rs 4300 lakh financial assistance provided under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) have been pending against the Tourism Development Authorities of Jammu and Kashmir.
The dismal picture in this regard has been painted in the latest report of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, which is monitoring the implementation of the PMRP. In case of some of the Development Authorities, the Utilization Certificates have been pending for the funds released during the 2009-10 financial year while as in case of others the UCs have been pending for the past more than two years despite the fact that non-submission of certificates blocks release of next installments.
The Development Authorities of Kishtwar and Leh top the list with Utilization Certificates of Rs 654.34 lakh and Rs 550.65 lakh respectively have been pending against them till ending May 2013.
In case of Kishtwar Development Authority, the UCs of Rs 345.2 lakh have been pending since 2009-10 financial year. This amount was part of funds released for infrastructure and destination development scheme and construction of TRC complex at Sarthaldevi Kishtwar.
Similarly, UCs of Rs 212.14 lakh and Rs 96.80 lakh have been pending for the total funds released during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 financial years for development of WFR at Chhatru and construction of budget accommodation and allied works at Kishtwar.
According to the data, Leh Development Authority has not submitted UCs for the Rs 111.95 lakh released for construction of various tourist infrastructure facilities, for development of Leh as a circuit under PIDDC Scheme, Rs 149.91 lakh released for construction of integrated tourist facilities, Rs 149.82 lakh for development of wayside amenities under Budgeted Accommodation at Leh-Maan Merak, Charasa and Rs 138.97 lakh released for development of lake circuit including the lakes of Pangong, Tsomoriri and Toker during the 2011-12 financial year.
The Utilization Certificates of Rs 488.33 lakh——Rs 348.36 lakh for the 2010-11 financial year and Rs 139.97 lakh for the 2011-12 have been pending against the Bhaderwah Development Authority. These funds were released for erection of various structure and allied facilities for Yatra Base Camp at Bhaderwah and en-route to Kailash and creation of facilities for day camping, eco-tourism and pilgrim tourism at Gatha, Kanitop Seoj, Padri and pilgrim destinations at Bhaderwah.
Sonamarg Development Authority has not submitted the UCs for the amount of Rs 266.35 lakh released during 2011-12 financial year and Rs 121.91 lakh released during 2012-13 financial year for the development of Sonamarg bowl and wayside amenities enroute Shri Amarnathji shrine up to Baltal base camp under Destination Development Scheme.
Likewise, the Utilization Certificates of Rs 72.97 lakh released for development of shrine complex at Baba Reshi Tangmarg (Phase-II) during 2009-10 and Rs 238.96 lakh released during 2011-12 for development of resort area have been pending against Gulmarg Development Authority. The Patnitop Development Authority has yet to submit UCs of Rs 88.23 lakh released during 2008-09 for the development of budgeted accommodation-cum-wayside amenities at Kud.
The UCs of Rs 304.21 lakh released for development of infrastructure facility have been pending against Pahalgam Development Authority. Similarly, UCs of Rs 287.01 lakh have been pending against Kokernag Development Authority during the past over two years, Rs 217.47 lakh against Rajouri Development Authority, Rs 243.59 lakh against Poonch Development Authority, UCs of Rs 366.26 lakh against Lakhanpur-Sarthal Development Authority and UCs of Rs 338.30 lakh against Kargil Development Authority.
When contacted, Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmed Mir said, “I have already taken serious note of pendency of Utilization Certificates and issued explicit directions to the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the Development Authorities to expedite the furnishing of certificates to the concerned Ministry in the Union Government”.
Stating that this problem was not only confined to the Tourism Development Authorities and being faced in other Centrally sponsored schemes also, he said, “we are hopeful of submitting the pending UCs by July ending so that next installments of the funds are released to us for accomplishment of the developmental activities”, adding “I have also told the CEOs to first clear the pending UCs and then make it a habit to submit the same in routine”.
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