Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 26: In a significant order, High Court has directed the Commissioner Secretaries of the Finance and Planning Departments to file a status report within two weeks with regard to release of funds to the tune of Rs.2237.98 lakh as demanded by the Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Department Jammu from the Commissioner Secretary PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department for the ongoing restoration works in Nikki Tawi area, Kathua, Samba and Poonch under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan.
When the writ petition filed by flood affected inhabitants of Barjala and Khandwal villages came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Suraj Singh and Supriya Chouhan appearing for the petitioners drew the attention of the court towards the affidavit filed by the Kuldeep Kumar Magotra, Superintending Engineer Hydraulic Circle Jammu wherein it was submitted that the damages of flood protection works in Tawi and adjoining area was estimated to the tune of Rs.102.87 crore against which restoration at most vulnerable spots was completed amounting to Rs.29.70 crore during 2014-15 and 2015-16.
The affidavit further says that the restoration of balance works at critical spots including Barjala and Khandwal were taken up during the year 2016-17 and 2017-18. The works proposed for execution during the year 2016-17 and 2017-18 are amounting to Rs 17.54 crore against which an amount of Rs.2.456 crore stands released during the year 2016-17 and the balance amount of Rs 15.08 crore stand demanded during 2017-18.
“For the last more than 10 years the flash floods during monsoon season in the Nikki Tawi area are causing devastation with the result the agricultural land in more than 46 villages gets washed away apart from causing loss to the life and property of the inhabitants”, Advocate Ahmed submitted, adding “major cause of the devastation in the Nikki Tawi area is diversion of 90% flow of flood water in the Nikki Tawi from the main Tawi Bridge area and only a small quantity of the flood water is diverted in the Badi Tawi and this is done intentionally to save the agricultural land of some influential political personalities who have encroached big chunks of Tawi and State land”.
He drew the attention of the court to a communication dated June 9, 2017 written by Rajeev Gandotra, Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Department to the Secretary PHE, I&FC Department demanding funds to the tune of Rs 2237.98 lakh for execution of priority works in Nikki Tawi area, Kathua, Samba and Poonch under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan.
“Till date the Planning and Finance Secretaries have not released the funds for the restoration works”, he added.
At this stage, Deputy Advocate General Ranjeet Singh Jamwal appearing for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department submitted that in terms of order dated August 25, 2017 the Irrigation and Flood Control Department has filed the requisite affidavit disclosing the restoration works undertaken in the Nikki Tawi area and also the demand raised to the Administrative Department for additional funds. He further submitted that for completion of works the additional funds have been requisitioned.
Government Advocate Tarun Sharma appearing for Finance and Planning Departments requested the court to grant him two weeks time to file a status report with regard to the release of funds as requisitioned by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department.
After considering the rival contentions, Justice B S Walia directed Commissioner Secretaries of Finance and Planning Departments to file a status report within two weeks with regard to release of funds to the tune of Rs.2237.98 lakh as demanded by the Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Department Jammu.
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