Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 19: Various R&B divisions have created liabilities worth Rs 225.13 crores for the State Government in road sector, bringing massive financial indiscipline in the system prevailing in the department.
These revelations were made on the floor of the Upper House by the Minister in-charge R&B Abdul Majid Wani, who held politicians responsible for the financial mess. He tried to hide the details sought by the agitating members regarding the division-wise liabilities created during last three years in the R&B works.
The Minister had to face the wrath of several agitating members, who pressed for the detailed reply regarding the amount of liability created by each division and constituency-wise funds utilized and also fix the responsibility on the persons responsible for it.
R&B Minister, however, claimed that for the execution of various works under `road sector’ a liability of Rs 225.13 crore was created ending March 2010. He further claimed that an amount of Rs 78.10 crore stand already released for meeting these liabilities. Mr Wani, however, remained silent on the execution of other works and details of liabilities of last three years.
Avoiding the detailed reply of the question of Naresh Kumar Gupta from Congress, the minister said, “The exercise to determine the extent of liabilities, if any, created during the period 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 is being ascertained.”
The issue was raised by Congress Member during `Question Hour’ in the Upper House. He sought the details of liabilities created by each R&B division during 2010-2011, 2011-12 and 2012-13 for works executed. Mr Gupta also sought details of the constituencies where such liabilities were created and fixing responsibility on those who have transgressed their powers by creating financial indiscipline. The Minster just replied, “the officers responsible for creating unauthorized liability, once established, are subject to disciplinary action as warranted under rules.”
With the casual reply of the minister, several members got agitated and pressed for the details and also alleged that Government was trying to hide the facts. National Conference Member Vijay Bakaya termed it as massive financial indiscipline. He said it would disturb the budget of the State Government and it should have been cleared every year. Many contractors utilize their own money for various works and their bills are not cleared for years together. No heed is given to first clear this liability. PDP member Naeem Akhtar said as per his information, just one division in Jammu has created a liability of over Rs 100 crores and the Government should not hide the facts.
Naresh Gupta pressed for giving details as sought by him regarding liabilities for all type of works executed by R&B and also asked under whose behest these liabilities were created.
Mr Wani then claimed that on the behest of politicians these liabilities have been created. He said it not that these liabilities for Government were created in just last 1-2 years, but were pending for the last several years. After he took over the department no new liabilities were created, rather an amount of Rs 78 crore has been cleared on account of these liabilities. He said if the member wanted he would provide him the complete list of the liabilities created by each division and also names of the constituencies.
Another Congress member Ravinder Sharma stood up and said that question pertained to the entire House and any document pertaining to it, is the property of the House. Therefore, the minister should provide details shortly to the House during this session and also give the names of the people on whose behest these liabilities have been created. They want division wise details. Naresh Gupta pleaded the Chairman to constitute a House Committee which will fix the responsibility and expose this unholy financial mess in the State.
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