No proper follow-up of schemes submitted under PMDP-II
Non-release of funds creates obstacles in completion
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 8: Many tourism sector projects sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for the Jammu region several years back are being allegedly sabotaged by certain officers of the Tourism Department at the Civil Secretariat but the Government has failed to check their activities.
Moreover, there is no proper follow-up of the projects which were formulated and submitted to the Government of India for funding under Phase-II of the PMDP as a result of which no headway could be made for promotion of tourism in this part of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir till date.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that under Phase-I of the Prime Minister’s Development Package projects aimed at development of tourist facilities at Bhagwati Nagar, Jhajjar Kotli, Suchetgarh, Siarh Baba Reasi, Pul Doda and Pancheri etc were sanctioned several years back and accordingly the work was allotted through proper tendering process.
At most of these projects, more than 80% work has been completed by the contractors who were allotted the works through transparent tendering process but only 20% to 30% payment has been released till date as a result of which the contractors are finding it difficult to go ahead, they said, adding “due to this the fate of the projects is hanging in balance”.
Stating that no clear reason is being given for delay in release of payments, sources said, “while some officers of the Tourism Department claim that funds have been delayed due to procedural formalities, the others are of the stand that funds are lying with the Administrative Department and are not being released because of sabotage by certain officers who deal with the planning and financial aspects of the Tourism Department at the Secretariat level”.
“If there is procedural delay the onus of the same lies on the Administrative Department and if the payment is held up for want of submission of Utilization Certificates (UCs) to the Government of India the same can also be attributed to slackness on the part of those who are dealing with the matter at the Civil Secretariat”, sources further said.
“Whatever may be the reason behind inordinate delay in release of funds even after completion of more than 80% work the fact remains that the fate of the projects is hanging in balance and the Government has failed to rein in the officers responsible for the same”, they said while disclosing that some officers who are overstaying in the Administrative Department have developed vested interests and are releasing funds selectively.
They further said, “whenever the Directorate of Tourism is approached by the contractors for release of funds the officers put ball in the court of Administrative Department particularly Director Planning and the concerned officers in the Civil Secretariat are not approachable on one or the other pretext”, adding “if the prevailing situation is not checked immediately projects aimed at tourism promotion in Jammu region will never reach the logical conclusion”.
“It is a matter of serious concern that even after being reprimanded by the High Court over lacking any strategy for tourism promotion in Jammu region, the Tourism Department has not mend its ways and rather creating obstacles in timely completion of PMDP projects”, sources rued.
One more astonishing fact is that there is no proper follow-up of the projects which were formulated and submitted to the Government of India for funding under Phase-II of the PMDP.
After hectic efforts, four projects for creation of tourist facilities near Ranjit Sagar dam, development of catchment area of Baglihar dam near Batote, river rafting and allied facilities at Baradari in Reasi and establishment of amusement park near Jambu Zoo near Nagrota were prepared and submitted to the Union Government for funding.
However, work on none of these projects could be started till date mainly because of lack of seriousness on the part of those at the helm of affairs in the Tourism Department, sources said, adding “any project submitted for funding to the Government of India requires proper follow-up with the concerned Ministry but this aspect has not received due attention of the Tourism Department”.
With such a casual approach how the Government would promote tourism in Jammu region remains a million dollar question, they said, adding “the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Secretary should intervene personally so that there is no further sabotage of the Jammu projects by certain officers of the Tourism Department”.
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