Seeks officers’ list for action
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 29: The UT Government today directed that the departments should utilize Government land for construction of projects and undertaking infrastructural development works while land should be acquired only if Government land is not available.
It asked the departments to compile list of officers who have authorized execution of works and projects without proper sanction leading to creation of liabilities on account of land acquisition.
An order to this effect was issued today by General Administration Department (GAD) Secretary Dr Piyush Singla.
Asserting that authorization of Competent Authority/Delegation of Powers for according administrative approvals etc are a prerequisite for ordering execution of any work or project, the Government order said the regulatory regime governing acquisition of land for various developmental projects prescribed utilization of Government land, as far as possible, for the purpose of infrastructural development.
“Land should ideally be acquired only in case of non-availability/non-feasibility of Government land for execution of the project,” the order read.
The Government noted with concerns that despite existing norms/guidelines, many departments and their subordinate offices executed works and projects without proper authorization leading to creation of liabilities on account of land acquisition from private land owners.
This has caused loss to the exchequer and also led to avoidable litigation in many cases, the order said, adding the matter has been viewed seriously by the authorities.
“The Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Department (HoDs) are hereby enjoined upon not to authorize execution of any work/project without proper authorization and utilize the Government land for developmental activities, as far as possible, desisting thereby from creating/admitting liabilities on this account, especially in cases where land under reference has been donated previously,” the General Administration Department order said.
It added that in case of land being donated for any public purpose, it shall be ensured that the same is encumbrance free and requisite follow up like executing donation deed, mutation in favour of the concerned department or agency is effected immediately.
“All departments shall compile list of officers who have authorized execution of works and projects without proper sanction or have created/admitted liabilities on account of land acquisition/works without proper authorization/authority and furnish the same to the Finance Department for appropriate action with one month,” the Government order said.
It shall also be ensured that land compensation component is incorporated in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of all projects in case land is required to be acquired, the order read.
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