*Degree College, Polytechnic being run in pvt buildings since long
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 9: In a testimony of non-adherence to the repeated directions of the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti regarding greater coordination between various Government agencies, the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) Limited and Kishtwar district administration are at loggerheads over execution of three major projects of immense public importance, which were sanctioned several years back.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that in the year 2014 the then Government sanctioned creation of 100-bedded additional facility for District Hospital Kishtwar and it was announced that Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Limited will commence work shortly so that within shortest possible time improved healthcare facilities could be provided to the people of far-flung district of Kishtwar.
However, it took three years to the Government to lay the foundation stone of project despite being aware of the fact that without this ritual no project is kick-started in Jammu and Kashmir even if the money and land are available.
The foundation stone of Rs 19.50 crore project was laid by the Minister for Health and Medical Education Bali Bhagat on April 23, 2017 and it was announced that project will be completed by May 2020. “Had required attention been paid towards this project it would have been completed till date and people of Kishtwar district would have been getting enhanced facilities”, sources remarked.
“Even after the foundation stone laying ritual the JKPCC has yet not started work on ground and the stereotype reply is that some pending formalities are being completed”, sources said.
About another important project, sources said that Degree College for Chatroo was sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme (PMRP) in the year 2008 and it was announced with much-hype that infrastructure of the college would come up in shortest possible time. However, despite lapse of nearly nine years JKPCC has failed to construct infrastructure for college, which is being run from a private building.
Similarly, Polytechnic, which was also sanctioned several years back, is being operated from a rented building despite the fact that land for the same has already been acquired after payment to the land owners, sources informed, adding “in the absence of own buildings the students of Degree College Chatroo and Polytechnic Kishtwar are being taught without even the minimum required facilities”.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Ghulam Nabi Balwan put the ball in the court of Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation for inordinate delay in the start of work on these three major projects. “The land for Chatroo Degree College was physically handed over to JKPCC by the district administration after its acquisition at least three times but I have failed to understand why they are not starting the work despite the fact that funds are available for the project”, he said.
About Polytechnic, the Deputy Commissioner said, “major chunk of the land was free from any problem and it was formally acquired by the administration after completion of all the necessary formalities and only two-three persons were aggrieved over the amount of compensation, which has also been paid now”, adding “under the garb of issue of two-three persons JKPCC has delayed the whole project”.
As far as 100-bedded additional facility for District Hospital Kishtwar is concerned, Ghulam Nabi Balwan confirmed that even after laying of foundation stone work has not been started on this project also. “I will shortly call meeting of JKPCC officers to ascertain the reasons behind dilly-dallying approach towards these three important projects”, he added.
However, Executive Engineer of JKPCC, when approached, said, “the land compensation related issues of Degree College Chatroo and Polytechnic have been resolved by the administration recently and now JKPCC is in a position to start work”.
“All this indicates that JKPCC and Kishtwar district administration are at loggerheads over three key projects and are working against the directions of the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti regarding greater coordination in effective and timely execution of developmental projects”, sources remarked, adding “Deputy Commiss-ioner cannot absolve himself by just putting the ball in the court of JKPCC as being head of the district he should have called explanation of the concerned authorities to get the work started”.
Follow our WhatsApp channel