Less than 30% achievement in Kishtwar, Ramban, Doda, Samba
*Finance Deptt cautions DSEOs against further slackness
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 28: Government has noticed slow physical verification of projects and works completed during the financial year 2022-23 in all the districts of Jammu province as compared to Kashmir province and has cautioned the District Statistics and Evaluation Officers (DSEOs) against further slackness in this regard.
The process of 100% physical verification of completed works/projects was started in order to strengthen the institutionalized framework of transparency, accountability and efficient project management across all levels of governance.
Moreover, the initiative is aimed to ensure fiscal discipline, prevent cost overruns and expeditious project completion encompassing indispensable aspects such as accord of administrative approvals, technical sanctions, e-tendering and eventually the timely delivery of developmental benefits to stakeholders.
However, the data compiled by the Expenditure Division of the Finance Department has revealed that only 33.53% achievement has been registered in Jammu province as on December 22, 2023 regarding physical verification of the projects/works completed during the previous financial year under UT Sector. On the other side the progress is 66.95% in Kashmir province.
According to the data, not even one district of Jammu province has registered 50% achievement with regard to physical verification of the projects/works. The situation is worst in Kishtwar (only 7.37% physical verification), Ramban (19.50%), Doda (20.37%) and Samba (25.17%).
In Kathua district, 45.70% achievement has been registered while as in Udhampur and Poonch districts the achievement is 44.51% and 40.42% respectively. In Rajouri district 36.61% achievement has been registered while as in Jammu 34.85% and in Reasi 34.69%.
There is only one district in Kashmir province-Kupwara where less than 50% achievement has been registered with regard to physical verification of the projects/works. As far as other districts of Kashmir province are concerned, 99.56% achievement has been registered in Ganderbal, 75.79% in Budgam, 75.51% in Pulwama, 75.30% in Anantnag, 74.54% in Shopian, 67.42% in Baramulla, 66.82% in Srinagar, 64.83% in Bandipora and 62.32% in Kulgam.
“The District Statistics and Evaluation Officers of Kashmir province have performed well with regard to physical verification of projects mainly because of well-planned strategy which otherwise is lacking on the part of DSEOs of Jammu province”, official sources told EXCELSIOR while disclosing that Finance Department has cautioned the DSEOs of Jammu province against further slackness in this regard and they have been explicitly told to gear up the verification process and ensure 100% results within the stipulated time-frame.
The slackness on the part of DSEOs of Jammu province is notwithstanding the fact that in the month of September this year the Finance Department had directed that physical verification/inspection of the works has to happen systematically and shall be evenly planned for the entire financial year.
Meanwhile, in order to overcome the shortage of manpower for conducting the physical verification of projects/works executed by various departments under different schemes and programmes, the Planning, Development and Monitoring Department has asked all the District Development Commissioners to ensure deployment of the additional staff of Economics and Statistics Cadre available in the line departments within the districts for conducting 100% physical verification as per the requirement put forth by the respective DSEOs.
“The District Development Commissioners should ensure completion of physical verification of the identified works in a time bound manner through DSEOs and the outcome of the same reviewed regularly with the concerned officers for immediate necessary action”, read the instructions of the Planning Department.
It has also been mentioned by the Planning, Development and Monitoring Department that over a period of time, the volume of work has increased enormously as a result the field officers of District Statistics and Evaluation Offices, who serve as a primary drivers of the whole physical verification process, are grappling with shortage of manpower.
However, sources said that shortage of manpower cannot be sole reason for poor performance in Jammu province in respect of physical verification of projects as same difficulty might have been encountered by the DSEOs in Kashmir province.
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