Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 14: While the Irrigation and Flood Control Department (I&FC) has failed to clear about 6 years old liability of contactors worth over Rs 12 cores, the agency was yet to launch de-silting work of Ranbir Canal, Partap Canal and its distributaries in Jammu areas.
Reports said that on the day of Baisakhi, the water is released in Ranbir Canal from Chenab river at Akhnoor every year. The flow of water is stopped during winter months. Now, since hardly one month has been left for release of water in the Canal, the Irrigation Department (Now Jal Shakti Deptt) is least bothered about the cleanliness of the Canal besides de-siltation exercise.
Right from Domana up to Canal head near Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu and even in Satwari area and ahead, the Canal has been turned into a virtual garbage dump. The people throw bottles, polythene bags and other disposables into the canal. The Irrigation department invites tenders for the work and funds worth lakhs are utilized on the name of de-silting every year but quite often it is done in hush- hush manner and the funds are drawn by the end of March and distributed among the ‘favourite contractors’.
A local, Yogesh Kumar from Shakti Nagar said that it is old practice in the Irrigation department. The de-silting work is commenced hardly one or two weeks before the releasing of water. No proper cleanliness work is initiated and over fifty percent of the silt remains in the Canals.
Another local, Sunil Kumar said when water is stopped in canal during winters, thereafter, no proper care is taken to keep the canal clean. The foul smell from canal comes some times, making life of the people living nearby horrible. He said huge funds worth cores are utilised on the name of de-silting every year but the work is not done properly. He said Govt should hold inquiry into the matter.
While referring to the old liability of the contractors, Mukesh Kumar vice president, I&FC Deptt Contractors Association alleged that Department has failed to clear about 5-6 years old liability worth Rs 12 crore of the contractors who have worked utilizing their own money. He said for the last two years, not even a single penny of the old liability has been cleared by the Department. Over 60 % payments of contractors who had worked at Ravi-Tawi canal last year have not been cleared till date, he regretted.
Replying to a question, Kumar said they had met the then Advisor , K K Sharma then Advisor R R Bhatnagar, besides Financial Commissioner Finance Arun Mehta but the money was not released. He said most of the contractors who have turned victims or even others, have stopped participating in the tenders of de-silting work. This is not the case in the I&FC even the old liabilities of R&B contractors are not being paid, for the reasons best known to the people at the helm of affairs, he added.
Chief Engineer I&FC, Jammu, HK Manchanda when contacted claimed that tenders for the de-silting work of Ranbir Canal and Partap Canal have been called and even cleared. At a few places, the work has also been started. He claimed that before the release of water on the day of Baisakhi, the Canals will be cleared.
Manchanda further disclosed that he had gone to Akhnoor and Jourian areas for the inspection of the Ranbir and Partap Canals today. At one or two places, the work has been started. He claimed that within next 15 days the silt from main canals and the distributaries will be removed. He claimed that during last years Rs 5.50 crores were spent on de-siltation work and this year funds to the tune of Rs 6.50 crore are being utilized for the purpose.
When asked about the old liabilities, the Chief Engineer claimed that there would be a liability to the tune of about Rs 10 crores. The department will try its best to clear the same in phased manner. The matter has been taken up with the higher authorities. Manchanda claimed that last year’s liability has been cleared and this year’s payments will also be cleared within year. For the clearance of old liabilities, the instructions from the top are yet awaited. As and when the funds are made available, the department will clear the same. He claimed that maximum amount pertained to Ist and 2nd Divisions of the department.
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