No timelines still fixed for making projects a reality
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 13: Shocking it may sound but it is a fact that none of the 17 social welfare sector projects sanctioned by the Government during the past one decade has become reality so far as slackness on the part of State’s executing agencies has not even spared this vital area.
Moreover, no timelines have still been fixed for completion of these projects, which otherwise were planned with the aim to provide hostel facilities to large number of students of underprivileged sections of the society and better facilities to aged and infirm and destitute children.
As per the official document available with EXCELSIOR, construction of 100 bedded OBC boys hostel at Degree College Pulwama and 209 bedded OBC boys hostel at Islamic College of Science and Commerce Srinagar was sanctioned during 2008-09 financial year and the work was allotted to Public Works Department and Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation at a cost of Rs 325 lakh and Rs 679 lakh respectively.
However, despite lapse of one decade both these projects have not been completed by the executing agencies thereby establishing the intensity of slackness and dilly-dallying approach on their part.
Similarly, construction of 50 bedded SC girls hostel at Government Degree College Ramnagar and 100 bedded OBC boys hostel at Government Degree College Doda was sanctioned during the financial year 2012-13 but despite lapse of several years the work is nowhere near completion.
Likewise, construction of 50 bedded Bal Ashram at Mandi Gurgullian in Samba was sanctioned during 2011-12 financial year at a cost of Rs 172.10 lakh but till date the work has not been completed by the executing agency.
During 2016-17 financial year, construction of 50 bedded SC boys hostel at Government Degree College Kishtwar and 100 bedded OBC girls hostel at Government Degree College Reasi was sanctioned but nobody knows when these projects will be completed especially when the fate of those sanctioned in 2008-09 and 2011-12 is still hanging in balance.
According to the sources, the executing agency (JKPCC) is also dilly-dallying on execution of Rs 973 lakh worth project of providing composite old age home at Ghaink in Bhalwal area in the outskirts of Jammu. Similar is the situation vis-a-vis 100 bedded OBC boys hostel at village Ghaink in Bhalwal and renovation of Working Women Hostel at Roop Nagar.
Another construction agency of the State—Jammu and Kashmir Police Housing Corporation is also soft-paddling on the execution of four projects which were sanctioned in 2016-17.
These projects are 100 bedded OBC girls hostel at Government Degree College Kupwara, 100 bedded OBC girls hostel at GDC Delina Baramulla, construction of office complex for Women Development Corporation at Bemina and one stop centre at Srinagar.
“The dilly-dallying approach in the execution of projects is notwithstanding the fact that process of reconciliation of project costs with the executing agencies has already been completed”, sources informed.
Due to delay in completion of hostels large number of students belonging to the underprivileged sections of the society have remained deprived of the hostel facilities even after huge expenditure on these projects during the past several years, sources said, adding “it is a matter of serious concern that the social welfare sector, which should remain top priority of the Government, has received least attention of its agencies”.
How delay of over six years in construction of 50 bedded Bal Ashram at Mandi Gurgullian in Samba can be justified by the concerned executing agency? sources asked, adding “keeping in view the hanging fate of projects of vital sector the Government should call those at the helm of affairs in the executing agencies and seek explanation for delay”.
If resource constraint was the reason behind delay in completion of projects the Government should have arranged sufficient funds as all these projects are aimed at providing facilities to the underprivileged sections of the society, aged and inform and destitute children, sources said while expressing inability to specify time-frame for the completion of these projects.
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