Arun Singh
Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 19: The fate of more than 50 projects in J&K hangs in balance as Centre has withheld Rs 113 crore under the Central Road Fund (CRF).
Sources in the Roads and Buildings department told Early Times that Centre had approved Rs 113 crore to the state in 2013-14 under to complete many road connectivity networks. But now work on at least 50 road projects, which was in progress across the state, has been badly affected as Centre has not released the money due to paucity of funds, said the sources.
They said that in the absence of funds, contractors who were engaged for the projects have left the work midway while many new projects, which were to be started, have failed to take off.
"With the incomplete works, the cost escalation is likely to affect the projects and their completion will be difficult in near future," said the sources, adding that majority of the 50 projects are in Jammu province.
Slamming the state government for its "incompetence" to get the funds released from Centre, sources said J&K is counted among the non-performing states.
"The poor performance of the state authorities is visible as various centrally sponsored schemes worth crores of rupees are far from completion for many years," said the sources. |
