Snail’s pace work on several projects sanctioned under STF

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 19: Notwithstanding availability of sufficient funds, work on several projects sanctioned under Special Task Force (STF) in Jammu region is moving at snail’s pace due to the failure of the authorities concerned to sort out basic issues thereby depriving the people of the intended benefits. Some of these projects have even fallen victim to the political interests as a result of which no major headway could be made on them during the past three years.
The Special Task Force for Jammu was constituted by the Government of India on October 13, 2010 to examine the allocations in terms of infrastructure needs and make suitable recommendations to overcome the deficiencies.
The terms and references of the STF were to identify the special development needs of the Jammu region and suggest measures to address them besides to examine allocations to the region in terms of infrastructure needs. The STF headed by Planning Commission of India Member, Abhijit Sen, identified several projects across the Jammu region for one time funding from the Government of India.
However, despite lapse of more than three years progress on several projects of much public importance remains far from satisfaction, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
Giving some instances, they said that in the border district of Rajouri no final decision has been taken on the site for construction of mini-secretariat building despite the fact that an amount of Rs 15 crore has been released during the past two years.
“The land of old district hospital and higher secondary school was selected for the construction of mini-secretariat for being the central place and accordingly the papers were prepared and submitted to the Health Department for obtaining No Objection Certificate but the same is still awaited”, sources said.
“The delay in completion of all formalities for kick-starting work on the mini-secretariat is mainly because of some political interests as Minister from Rajouri wants the mini-secretariat to be at another place”, they said, adding “given the prevailing situation nobody knows when this issue will be resolved and the work on mini-secretariat gets started”.
About mini-secretariats at Poonch and Mendhar, sources said, “there is no major progress on the complex at Mendhar. Earlier the land identification process took time and now it is stated that the cost of the project has escalated”, adding “there is significant progress as far as Poonch mini-secretariat is concerned”.
Similarly, in Udhampur district despite release of around Rs 4 crore no progress could be made till date on the Solid Waste Management Project, sources informed, adding “though land for the project was identified but the same was opposed by the people and till date another site for the project has not been finalized”.
Likewise, for Disaster Management Complex in the district an amount of Rs 10.5 crore has been released but till date even foundation work has not been completed, they said, adding “even work on widening of Ramnagar-Dudu-Basantgarh-Latti Road has not been completed”.
About STF projects in Reasi district, sources said, “though the work on Water Supply Scheme for holy town of Katra is going on at a required pace yet there is delay as far as land acquisition for upgradation of facilities at Shiv Khori Shrine is concerned”.
There has also been delay in land acquisition for Chenab House at Doda and Jammu besides Seed Farm at Chakroi and Irrigation Project of Tawi, sources said, adding “there are several more projects across the Jammu region on which significant progress has not been made till date”.
Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu reviewed the physical and financial status of projects under STF and expressed serious concern over delay in execution of several projects. He took a detailed review of various ongoing projects under the revenue, tourism and social welfare sectors. He directed for maintaining close coordination between the executing agencies for timely completion of the projects.
Mr Shantmanu also discussed the issues related to exchange of forest land situated at revenue village Sunjwan in favour of Army in lieu of its land situated at Satwari coming under expansion of Jammu Airport.

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