*Nearly 100 schools to be made safe for students
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 11: In order to give necessary impetus to the restoration of infrastructure damaged during devastating floods of last year, Government has revalidated Rs 158 crore unspent funds under Prime Minister’s Package with the explicit directions to the departments to ensure completion of all the works during the current financial year to avoid additional financial implications.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that during 2014-15 financial year, an amount of Rs 548.16 lakh was kept at the disposal of Rawi Tawi Irrigation for restoration of infrastructure damaged during the floods of September 2014. However, the authorities of Rawi Tawi could utilize only Rs 211.74 lakh rendering Rs 336.42 lakh as unspent.
Similarly, Irrigation and Flood Control Kashmir was given Rs 9773.44 lakh but expenditure of only Rs 4158.68 lakh was booked and Rs 5614.76 lakh remained as unspent. The PHE Kashmir could spend only Rs 4153.14 lakh as against release of Rs 7140.94 lakh.
As far as Irrigation and Flood Control Jammu is concerned, against approved cost of Rs 7738.55 lakh, expenditure of only Rs 2892.08 lakh was registered while as PHE Jammu spent only Rs 1204.07 lakh against Rs 2751.15 lakh approved cost.
Since majority of restoration works remained incomplete in PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control sectors, the Government found it appropriate to get the unspent funds revalidated and now the Planning and Development Department has released Rs 152 crore for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control sectors and unspent funds in respect of other vital sectors would be released shortly in order to give required push to the restoration works.
According to the sources, an amount of Rs 89.38 crore has been revalidated for Rawi Tawi Irrigation, I&FC Kashmir and PHE Kashmir while as an amount of Rs 63.93 crore has been revalidated for I&FC and PHE Jammu.
Chief Secretary, B R Sharma, who is also holding the charge of Principal Secretary to Government, Planning and Development Department, has made it clear to all the concerned authorities that works shall be executed within the approved outlay and there shall be no cost escalation at any level.
Making it clear that re-appropriation or diversion of funds from one component to another has not been allowed at any stage, Mr Sharma said, “the concerned authorities must ensure that there is no overlapping of funding from any other source”, adding “the departments must ensure completion of all works during the current financial year to avoid additional financial implications”.
Meanwhile, an amount of Rs 6.25 crore has been released in favour of School Education Department for works of urgent nature for safety of children and permanent restoration of various Government schools damaged during September 2014 floods.
According to the official data, the Government has desired to complete restoration of 77 schools, which suffered extensive damages during last year’s floods in different parts of Kashmir valley during the current financial year by utilizing the revalidated funds. Similarly, 17 schools would be fully restored in different parts of Jammu by making use of revalidated funds.
Flood protection works along Chenab, Basantar and Devika rivers, draining of nullah to protect Sidhra golf-course and restoration of irrigation khuls would be among the priority areas for Irrigation and Flood Control Jammu while as PHE Jammu would utilize the amount for restoration of damaged water supply schemes.
Similarly, Rawi Tawi Irrigation would lay focus on main Ravi and Ujh canals, Tarnah nullah and restoration of damaged canal siphon at Balole Nullah while carrying out restoration works in numerous areas of flood affected districts. Irrigation and Flood Control and PHE Kashmir would rush against the time to complete restoration of major canals, irrigation khuls and water supply schemes.
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