Disciplinary action to be taken in case of further violation
*No attention being paid towards Financial Code
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 2: In blatant violation of Jammu and Kashmir Financial Code and repeated instructions issued by the Finance Department, several wings of the Housing and Urban Development Department are still inviting tenders for developmental works without administrative approval and availability of funds.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that from time to time the Finance Department issued standing instructions for adherence to codal formalities for execution of the works/projects such as administrative approval/technical sanction. The adherence to these instructions in letter and spirit was also reiterated by the Housing and Urban Development Department through various orders issued to all its wings.
Moreover, Rule 9.3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Financial Code stipulates that no work should be commenced or any liability incurred until administrative approval from the competent authority is accorded and sanction either special or general of the competent authority has to be obtained before authorizing expenditure.
Besides, proper detailed design/estimates have to be sanctioned and the funds for the project/scheme to cover the charge during the year, has to be got approved/reflected in the budget of the concerned department, Rule 9.3 further states.
This Rule of the Financial Code also lays down the timelines for various authorities within which administrative approval for the developmental work has to be accorded. Even the powers vested with various authorities for accord of administrative approval and technical sanction have clearly been defined in the Book of Financial Powers.
However, it has come to the notice of the Principal Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department Dheeraj Gupta that tenders are being invited by various wings of the department for execution of various developmental works without administrative approval and without specifying availability of funds in clear violation of the instructions and the Financial Code.
“This practice is leading to halting of the projects soon after start of work as a result of which no timely benefit is provided to the people. Moreover, delay in accord of administrative approval in case of such projects also leads to escalation in their cost”, sources said.
Stating that blatant disregard to the Financial Code and guidelines would not be accepted any more, the Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department has enjoined upon all the implementing agencies under his administrative control to obtain the technical sanction and administrative approval from the competent authority prior to the execution of work.
In case it is beyond their competence, the technical sanction and administrative approval shall be got obtained from the next higher authority, read the circular issued by the Administrative Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department to all the wings, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.
“However, the administrative approval for those projects/ schemes which are executed without such approval shall be expedited from the competent authority at the earliest so that work on these projects is not held up”, the Principal Secretary said.
He has made it clear that the execution of the projects without administrative approval if continued will be seen as violation of standing instructions of Finance Department and Housing and Urban Development Department, which will invite disciplinary action against the violators.
The implementing agencies have also been asked to ensure that the photographs of pre and post execution of all the works executed under various schemes for which administrative approval has been accorded should be submitted to the Administrative Department for uploading the same on the web portal development by the Finance Department.
Lakes and Waterways Devel-opment Authority, Directorates of Urban Local Bodies of Jammu/Kashmir, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Jammu Municipal Corporation, J&K Housing Board, Urban Environ-ment Engineering Department, Drainage Circle SMC/JMC, Building Centre and Town Planning Organization are the wings of the Housing and Urban Development Department and concern has been conveyed to the heads of these wings.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Finance Department has already told the Treasury Officers not to entertain any claim for payment which doesn’t conform to all the parameters detailed in Rule 9.3 of the Financial Code.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
