Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 14: DDC Chairman, Bharat Bhushan Bodhi today called for eliminating all the bottlenecks snarling the functioning of Rural Development Department (RDD) and asked the concerned quarters to put in extra efforts to bring vibrancy in the working of Department and utilizing the CAPEX Budget earmarked for the development.
The DDC Chairman was chairing the meeting to review the functioning of RDD, here. Those who attended the meeting included DDC, Vice Chairman, Suraj Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Anshul Garg, ADDC Jammu Ramesh Kumar, SE PHE, SE JKPDCL, SE RDD, all BDOs, ACD Jammu, CPO and AC Panchayat Meenakshi Vaid.
The DDC Chairman expressed concern over the slow tendering process in the RDD works thus slowing down the execution of works badly. Responding to the query, the concerned officials apprised him that the problem is caused due to new and inexperienced contractors at Panchayat level because they fail to comprehend the exact cost of the projects and therefore the tendering process couldn’t serve the purpose. “This is a big problem”, they added. It was conveyed that the Government has stipulated that the development works will be carried out at Panchayat level and the local youths should be given preference to take the contracts of these works. As the locals were novice in executing these works, therefore after participating in tendering process they didn’t pursued the works thus forcing the Department to go for retendering which caused undue delays.
Another vital issue which was taken up in the meeting was apprehension on lapse of funds as the deadline is fast approaching viz December 31, 2021 and the works are in infancy stage with some of them still entangled in tendering processes. Mulling on the issue, as the Finance Department has given standing instructions to spend 30 per cent of the Capex Budget in last quarter but physically the works are at initial phases therefore the meeting resolved to appeal to Finance Department to extend the deadline upto March 31, 2022 so that Department can ramp-up things well in time.
The DDC Chairman asked the JKPDCL officials to be on toes with sufficient buffer stock in place as harsh Winter is fast approaching. He said that new poles should be installed as and when required and there should be no excuses as far as providing uninterrupted power supply is concerned. Similarly, he asked the PHE Department officials to gird up the loins and ensure regular water supply in all the areas. He also directed the concerned officials to raise the chak dams in low lying areas. Besides, he asked the Health Department to be ready to face any kind of exigency on account of new COVID variant Omicron.
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