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| ERA projects yet to be completed despite missing of several deadlines | | | Mudasir Tariq
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Jan 30: The lackadaisical approach of Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) can be gauged from the fact that dozens of projects taken by the agency have not been completed so far even after missing several deadlines.
Reliable sources in the agency told Early Times that due to non-scientific approach and design failure, the agency has failed to complete the timely execution of several important projects in the state. Like several other projects ERA was assigned the project to complete a small bridge at Kunzar-Magam, which is yet to be completed despite a gap of seven years. "The Rs two crores Kunzar Bridge that was sanctioned in 2008 and supposed to be completed in 2010 has not been completed due to the design failure and lack of proper planning of the project," sources said. The agency was set up on Dec 28, 2004 to implement externally aided projects. Many attribute to the under performance of the ERA to the fraud of funds and unintelligent people working with the agency that has failed to execute the projects.
"There are blue eyed people who have been employed in the agency. There is complete fraud of funds going on. Without any accountability the projects fail to complete," said an employee of the agency, wishing not to be named. Reportedly several projects in progress under Asian Development Bank (ADB) from past five to seven years have not been completed due to the unplanned approach of the Economic Reconstruction Agency. Sources said that the Asian Development Bank loan worth millions of rupees meant for 'improvement upgradation' has lapsed as the ERA has failed in the timely execution of the projects. "Only one fourth of the total projects were completed that too faced public outrage due to substandard material used by the agency. Now the ADB has stopped releasing loan for the projects," said sources. Meanwhile many people associated with these projects held that while the officials of the ERA remained busy painting a rosy picture in the meetings with the ousted chief minister Omar Abdullah, who was the chairman of the governing body of the ERA. Dozens of projects remained incomplete due to the inefficiency of the engineers. Sources said that many projects including Sopore bypass bridge; Kamal road of Uri, two bridges in Kargil, Bacheck Bridge under the Asian Development Bank started before seven years and supposed to be completed within 18 months are yet to be completed. Sources further revealed that ERA was given Rs 100-crore project to construct proper drainage and sewage system for highways connecting Srinagar city. Due to the fraud of funds the agency has completed just twenty five percent of the work so far. |
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