Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 2: In an embarrassing situation for the State Government, the Union Ministry of Urban Development has projected the Jammu and Kashmir as extremely slothful in the completion of the projects sanctioned for the planned development of urban infrastructure and basic services in the identified cities and towns under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
According to the report-card of the Union Urban Development Ministry’s JNNURM Directorate, as against five projects sanctioned under Urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG) sub-mission, not even one has been completed by the concerned authorities of Jammu and Kashmir Government despite lapse of several years and in view of the sluggish performance uncertainty still prevails over the completion of the same within the latest time-frame fixed for the same.
Of these five projects—two are in Jammu city and three are in summer capital city. On Comprehensive Sewerage Scheme for Division-A of Greater Jammu project, which was approved by the Union Ministry in December 2006, only 40 per cent work has been completed till ending 2012. Similar is the fate of Comprehensive Sewerage Scheme for left our area, Phase-II of Division-A of Greater Jammu, which was approved in March 2012. On second project not even one per cent work has been carried out till date.
As per the latest Quarterly Progress Report (QPR), March 2014 is the date of completion for these projects but given the sluggish progress till date whether the concerned authorities would meet the deadline remains a million dollar question.
As per the project implementation status of the Union Ministry, 71 per cent work has been completed on comprehensive sewerage scheme for Zone-III (Sector-I) of Greater Srinagar, which was approved in December 2006. As per the latest QPR, March 2014 is the new deadline for the completion of project.
Only 42 per cent work has been completed on augmentation of water supply for Zone-IV of Greater Srinagar including Central Water Testing Facilities, which was approved in February 2009. On water supply scheme for Tangnar (Srinagar) sanctioned in November 2007 only 45 per cent work has been completed till December 31, 2012. The completion of these projects by latest deadline of December 2013 is a litmus test for the concerned authorities keeping in view the fact that during the past several years even 50 per cent work has not been completed.
According to the Union Ministry’s report-card, against 47 projects sanctioned under Urban Infrastructure Development for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT), only seven have been completed till date.
Not only on the completion of the projects, the performance of J&K Government in carrying out reforms mandatory under the JNNURM scheme has also remained sluggish till date. As against six Urban Local Body level reforms, only three have been carried out till date. The reforms, which the State Government failed to carry out till date, are relating to property tax, cost recovery of water supply, solid waste and provision of basic services to urban poor.
Similarly, against seven State level reforms only three have been carried out. Of the remaining one is non- applicable while as no headway has so far been made for carrying out three others.
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