Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 3: Lack of coordination between different departments, imbalances in prioritization of works and casual approach in the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have resulted into non-execution/non-completion of a number of vital road connectivity projects under the Prime Minister Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), NABARD and CRF schemes.
These observations have been made by Committee of Estimates of Legislative Assembly, the report of which was tabled on the floor of the House by its Chairman, Abdul Gani Malik.
Expressing serious concern over certain imbalances committed in the prioritization of works/projects under PMGSY and NABARD funding and neglecting the un-connected/under connected areas in various parts of the State, the Committee on Estimates observed that all the constituencies of the State have not been treated equally thereby denying a large population of their basic rights of road connectivity at par with other areas, adding, notwithstanding the claims of the senior authorities the legislators were not being consulted in the preparation of plans under PMGSY, NABARD and CRF schemes and different yardsticks were being applied by Roads and Buildings Department in respect of various constituencies.
Though it was the job of the department to provide road connectivity to every nook and corner of the State having a population of as little as 250 souls and adequate funding was available under PMGSY for the purpose, the department has not been able to capitalize on the same with the result a large population was still deprived of this facility in the State, the 43rd report of Committee on Estimates said, adding “the department has also adopted casual approach in the execution of building projects pertaining to Health and School Education Departments as such buildings taken up for construction a number of years back have not been completed as yet despite adequate funding released by the concerned departments”.
The Committee on Estimates has also observed that condition of several roads constructed under PMGSY has deteriorated with the passage of time due to inability of the State Government in funding the up-gradation of these roads across the Jammu and Kashmir. “As Jammu and Kashmir is a tourist State mere ordinary construction of roads would not suffice the purpose”, the Committee has remarked.
Stressing that department should take serious steps to complete the assigned works within the stipulated period of time, the report said, “the fact that contractors from outside the State run away after the release of mobility advances in their favour leaving most of the projects incomplete/un-finished, was a general accusation of all public representatives. The contractors responsible for delay in the commissioning of the projects need to be penalized under the provisions of the scheme/contracts as has already been assured in various District Development Board meetings”.
The Committee was apprised by the Special Secretary, R&B Department that most of the road projects under PMGSY were either awaiting the clearance from the Forest and Environment Department or pending execution for want of payment of compensation to the concerned land/structure owners and the delay caused by these departments was the main obstacle in their completion/commissioning.
With regard to the works being executed under NABARD funding, the Committee observed that though the recent practice of one project per constituency per year was a good improvement in the mechanism, the Department should also take care of the imbalances created as a result of methodology adopted for selection of schemes for approval previously.
Expressing serious concern over the lack of set norms/criteria for approval and execution of works under State/District Sectors, the report said that the works taken up under CRF were “approach based” rather than district or constituency based as number of districts were totally ignored by the department. “The projects with higher component of land/property compensation have been taken up for execution with no special provisions of funds for compensation payment, resulting in delay in their execution, cost escalation over the period of time and even in abandoning of the projects as well”, it said.
Stressing that local public representatives be involved in the finalization of the proposed projects under State Sector, the Committee said that the system cannot work unless the local MLAs were not taken into confidence as the plans prepared by the Junior Engineers have failed in satisfying the public demands/requirements.
The Committee has observed that against the requirement of almost Rs 224 crore for the construction/completion of bridges the department received only Rs 32.50 crore that too at the fag end of the financial year as a result of which the department could not meet the expectations of the public representatives and the general public.
The panel has also expressed its serious concern over the delay caused in the completion of the roads under execution by Rural Engineering Wing of Rural Development Department despite availability of funds. According the report, the panel was apprised by the Commissioner Secretary, R&B Department that 101 cases were pending disposal in the Forest Department against the 400 cases (261 cases from Jammu and 139 cases from Kashmir division) referred to it so far.
The Committee has recommended that R&B Department should prioritize and take up at least one road/bridge project in every constituency for execution in due consultations with the respective MLAs, ensure equal distribution of funds allocated/released under various schemes/sectors for providing bridge/road connectivity in every constituency and prioritize uncovered areas under PMGSY.
The compensation cases in respect of all PMGSY schemes must be settled in a time bound manner and the Revenue Department should take immediate measures in this behalf so that the funds released by the Government of India for road connectivity in the State are utilized within the time-frame of the scheme, the Committee stressed, adding all the concerned departments should work in a very coordinate manner to ensure the smooth implementation of schemes launched under PMGSY, NBCC, ERA and CRF in the State and R&B Department should project and take up the upgradation of rural roads constructed under various schemes particularly MGNREGA to make them viable.
The Committee has also recommended that State Government should release the compensation component of Rs 200 crore as one time dispensation enabling the department to complete the schemes already taken up for execution under CRF and only those DPRs should be proposed for execution before the Central Government which have a lower compensation component.
It has suggested that the department should prioritize the constituencies which have not been adequately covered under the scheme so far or have lesser road connectivity in comparison to other constituencies and a proper mechanism should be evolved for the release of funds under all sectors by the Planning and Development Department.
The State Advisory Committee/Forest Department should clear the road projects already approved by the Government of India with release of funds as one time exception in the interest of beneficiary areas and stern action should be taken against the defaulting contractors and penalties awarded to ensure transparency in the utilization of funds as well as the completion of projects within the specified time-frame.
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