Can two and a half years’ precious time be afforded to be plunging into a fret of uncertainty and inaction in respect of identification of the land and change in the funding pattern by the Union Ministry of Culture regarding the proposed work on Sub- Regional Science Centre which the Union Government sanctioned in mid 2015 for the state of Jammu and Kashmir? The Centre is meant for popularizing science and technology for the benefits of the students of the state. We are not in a position to comprehend as to the predicament of the PDP – BJP coalition Government over the issue. In the melee and in the absolute run – of – the mill attitude of this Government, Jammu has been left to lurch.
Inordinate delay in establishing an already sanctioned Sub- Regional Science Centre (SRSC) at Srinagar has created obstacles in granting formal sanction for a similar centre in Jammu by the Union Ministry of culture, there being a clear cut stipulation in the scheme that second centre would be considered only after functioning of the first one. The Union Ministry of Culture sanctioned Sub Regional Science Centre for Srinagar at a cost of Rs. 20 crore (90; 10 sharing pattern). The sanction was duly conveyed to the Jammu and Kashmir Government with the information that National Council for Science Museums (NCSM) would extend all technical support for establishment of centre soon after the state identifies suitable land for the purpose. The SRSC envisages setting up of planetarium, research centre of an innovation hub, indoor and outdoor scientific exhibits for the student community, educational and recreational appeal and other facilities.
The Central Government extended the assurance to the State Government that similar centre would also be considered for Jammu after the first one comes up and starts working towards popularizing science and technology for the benefit of the students. No centre could , however, be established at Srinagar as process of identification of suitable land took unduly long time until only in August 2017 that the State Government allotted 25 kanals of land at Lalmandi at Srinagar to J and K Science , Technology and Innovation Council.
Again the problem of funds availability with the State Government, as usual, played villainous role and came in between the sanction of the Centre and its actual commissioning as the funds pattern had been revised at 50:50 pattern instead of 90:10 as before .This was made known by the NCSM to the Jammu and Kashmir Government that Ministry of Culture had reviewed funds pattern. In other words, the State Government shall have to arrange and provide sufficient funds for start of work on Sub- Regional Science Centre. If funds pattern of 90:10 was the commitment of the Union Culture Ministry at the time of according sanction of the Centre in August 2015, revising the same was going to impede the process of start of the Centre and, hence the State Government has demanded releasing of funds on the old pattern.
Now that the issue of land has been resolved, which of course was quite important and central to the start of the Centre, the BJP-PDP Government is at sixes and sevens over start of the work on Sub- Regional Science Centre. State Government is seeking releasing of funds on the committed pattern of 90:10 under the plea that the same was available to North Eastern states and that the Union Government should enhance the funds substantially. The interesting but the kernel of the entire issue is that had the State Government acquired land immediately after the Centre was sanctioned in a reasonable time, the coalition Government could have easily avoided the impasse.
The delay in establishing the Sub – Regional Science Centre at Srinagar has created obstacles in grant of such centre for Jammu as the Ministry of Culture had made it clear to the J and K Government well in 2015 that the second Centre would formally be sanctioned only after the first at Srinagar started functioning. Who stands penalized for taking things for granted and taking time at will as also making process of setting in of delays and deferments in the exercise of making such important projects take off? Such an approach is but annoying and galling.
Though belatedly in respect of the Science Centre, the Government is contemplating now to depute a team of officers for holding discussions with the Ministry of Culture and National Council for Science Museums. Let us hope that the issue will be resolved soon but wish such lackadaisical approach and taking things quite lightly and having no regard for time frame by the State Government authorities shall contritely be stopped in future.
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