Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 25: The issue of most controversial Ganpat bridge, over river Chinab at Pul Doda rocked the Upper House of the State Legislature today as the members, mostly from the ‘coalition’ parties, cornered the Government, demanding constitution of House Committee to probe the role of those responsible for this ‘engineering disaster’, financial loss worth crores caused to the public exchequer and fix responsibility on the real culprits including top Government functionaries behind it.
The noisy scenes were witnessed in the `House of Elders’, followed by some heated exchanges between NC member Devender Singh Rana and Sayed Rafiq Shah from NPP besides Minister for R&B Majid Wani and some members. The issue dominated the House proceedings today, during `Question Hour’. The members asked why Government was trying to shield the guilty and cover up the issue.
The matter was raised by Khalid Najib Suhrawardy from National Conference forcefully in the House. He asked what was the reason behind the delay in the completion of Ganpat bridge at Pul-Doda and what action has been taken against those responsible for this delay and loss to the public exchequer?
Mr Suhrawardy also alleged that inspite of taking action against a top officer responsible for this massive financial mess and loss to the Government exchequer, he was accorded three promotions in just one and half year. He said if there was fault in drawing or design as claimed by some officers, what action was taken against those responsible. The House and the people want to know the real truth.
Naresh Kumar Gupta from Congress stood up and said why favours were showered on a particular contractor, to whom advance payment worth crores was made for this bridge without calling tenders. Even no Bank guarantee was sought from him, ignoring set procedures and codal formalities as per rules. He alleged that it was big fraud which needed to be probed by House Committee so that truth is known to all. Mr Gupta asked that the Government must tell why people were allowed to suffer for over five long years. The bridge was still incomplete. When the work would start on it and what are the technical or other reasons behind. The ‘House’ should be told the truth, the member pleaded.
Then National Conference Member Devender Singh Rana stood up and expressed his serious concern over the issue. He termed it as an `engineering disaster’ in the history of J&K and asked the Minister why delay was caused in the completion of project. What action was taken against those responsible for the delay. Was it due to some technical failures ? Why responsibility was not fixed on the culprits. They should be hanged. The truth should come out and a House Committee be formed which would go into these details and fix the responsibility, Mr Rana added.
When Rana was speaking Sayed Rafiq Shah from NPP stood up and objected that he is never allowed to speak by the Chairman. He opposed the constitution of such committee and said, “Mazak Bana Diya Hai, Har issue Pe House Committee.” This led to a tiff between Mr Rana and him. Sheikh Ghulam Rasool said let the report of Committee led by Chief Secretary come out. It should be known to the House what action has been taken. Another Member Ghulam Nabi Monga also stressed for the House Committee and said it was very serious issue and those responsible for it should not be spared. G Q Pardesi also raised another query regarding status of tunnel on Mughal road for making it all- weather road.
Mr Rana said he and other members have no doubt on the integrity of the Minister (Mr Wani) and his style of functioning because he has taken pains on this project after taking over. But members want to know what went wrong earlier. There must be some reason behind delay or any technical failure. Let, it be known to all and what was harm in announcing a House Committee. The Minister should not take it otherwise.
The Minister Incharge R&B Abdul Majid Wani said the delay in the construction caused due seeking expertise opinion on the drawing and design prepared earlier for the project. It took some time and the work is going to be started shortly as all the hurdles behind the delay, have been cleared. He pointed out that this project was conceived and taken up with the initiative of former J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in 2007. It was taken up by the JKPCC. The pillars of the bridge erected at the bank are strong enough and even during recent earthquakes, no harm or any damage was caused to them. There was a proposal to slightly change alignment and services of an expert agency were also sought. The Minister, however, avoided the pointed queries of the members but maintained that work would start soon as he was taking personal initiative being local of the area. There was a small tiff between Rana and Wani over the dragging of Mr Azad into the project. Wani clarified that his words were being twisted by the NC member, he never meant that Azad Saheb had any role into it. PHE Minister Sham Lal then stood up and pleaded the `chair’ that name of the person who is not member of this house or not present, should not be taken.
While opposing the demand of House Committee, the Minister said that this case was himself got inquired by the Chief Minister and a committee headed by Chief Secretary has conduct inquiry. Nothing adverse was said to be found. Even the case was referred to Vigilance Organisation and an FIR was lodged but it was cleared later. The Minister said that this case was with the Accountability Commission at present.
The Minister also gave details regarding Doda-Desa- Kapran road and said that it would become another alternative route for Amarnath Yatra and a 15 kms tunnel is proposed on it. Once this road is declared as National Highway, the project would be taken up. He said bypass link road (double-lane) from Pul Doda to Ganpat bridge was under execution and against total cost of Rs 541.50 lakh, Rs 42.50 lakh have been spent so far. There was requirement of payment of compensation to the tune of Rs 128.70 lakh to the affected people. He also referred to Sud-Mahadev-Marmat tunnel and said that a project has been sent to the Government for clearance.
Despite being pressed repeatedly by the members to announce House Committee for Ganpat bridge, the Chairman Amrit Malhotra rejected the demand with the plea that case was sub-judice before Accountability Commission. He, however, directed the Government to produce the copy of report submitted by Chief Secretary in the House during current Session and said that members can get the copy of the report.
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