Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 23: Taking serious note on delay in completion of various bridges in J&K UT due to non-availability of funds as expressed by the executing agency, High Court observed that the fact is to be seriously looked into at the highest level and directed the Chief Secretary to immediately look into the matter.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Puneet Gupta after considering the report of J&K Project Construction Corporation Ltd which is executing agency of construction of various bridges in J&K, directed the Chief Secretary to immediately look into the matter
Deputy General Manager of Corporation disclosed before the Court that bridges which are under construction by the JKPCC are either funded by the World Bank or by the Government of UT of J&K. However, in most of the bridges, the paucity of funds is causing delay in the completion of the execution.
He submitted before the court that the Respondent-agency is an executing agency only and the Budget component in respect of all the bridges under execution with the corporation is dominion with project Authorities like PWD and those funded by the World Bank.
He added that bridges funded by the World Bank, are under execution and are going smoothly and funds are released from time to time but most of the bridges including that of the subjected matter viz Akhal and Tengchatri Bridge, due to the paucity of funds causing delay in the completion of the execution and the executing agency JKPCC Ltd is unable in timely completion of the bridges although for no fault of its own.
“Besides, the JKPCC Ltd. Corporation is without any budgetary support of the Government and has to earn the administrative overheads and salary / wages out of the profit component of the projects under execution. Furthermore, in 0812018 some 16 No. of the bridge projects under execution with the Respondent JKPCC Ltd. corporation including Akhal Bridge and Tengchatri bridge Iron Project Authority PWD whose pace of work is either at halt or low have been put under ‘Languishing’ will be funded by Jammu & Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (JKIDFC)”, GM reported to the court.
DB said the facts brought on record by the JKPCC are required to be seriously looked into at the highest level and ordered the copy of this order and the report filed by JKPCC be placed before the Chief Secretary of the UT of J&K who shall immediately look into the matter.
Court was hearing the matter as regards to bridges which were under construction in Kashmir Province and these projects are put either put on halt or delay due to insufficiency of funds with the executing agency viz J&K Project Construction Corporation funded by the Finance Department.
JKPCC informs that despite requests and imperative need of funds, the same have not been released by the Finance Department resulting into delay of the completion of these projects and similar delay is attributed in context to constructions of various flyovers.
It is noted that court had directed the JKPCC to inform it by giving details of the Bridges and Flyovers which are under construction by the agency along with the date of work allotted and original completion of date.
Details with regard to date of allotment and date of original completion of projects as also the expected date of completion of such projects from the J&K Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) was also sought by the court.
An affidavit was filed before the court giving the details which were required regarding construction of bridges by the Jammu& Kashmir Project Construction Corporation in the Kashmir province and funds were required to be released by the finance department.
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