| Out of 39 schemes of I&FC Department, 18 unviable on CBR benchmark | | Unfavorable Cost Benefits Ratio | | Arun Singh
Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 4: Notwithstanding the fact that for economical viability of any irrigation scheme, the Cost Benefit Ratio (CBR) of a scheme should be more than 'one', but in 18 schemes of eight divisions of Irrigation and Flood Control Department out of 39 schemes in 10 divisions completed at a cost of Rs. 16.23 crore did not conform to CBR benchmark.
Sources told Early Times "As per guidelines , in Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme, the Cost Benefit Ratio (CBR) is a comparison of the present value of a project with its initial cost and a ratio of greater than one indicates that the project is a viable one". They said that in order to ensure that a scheme has actually come up to the desired level of creation and utilization of Irrigation Potential, it is essential to work out Cost Benefit Ratio on actual after completion of a scheme.
"Out of 39 completed schemes of 10 divisions showed that in 18 schemes including LIS Lower Manda, Remodelling of Dandote-II Khul, Construction of Sabzian Mangote Khul, Construction of Faqir Dhara Khul, Construction Jhulas Khul, Construction of Pranoo KHul, Construcition of Panj Grain Khul, Construction of Sarna Khul, Construction of Pawan Malani Khul, Construction of Gajote Khul, Cosntruction of Ganora Khul, Improvements of Parnigram Ladi, of eight divisions completed at a cost of Rs 16.23 crore the CBR was less than one and ranged between 0.04 and 0.91," they said.
However, officials of the department giving illogical view point on this issue saying that schemes were prepared after calculating a favorable CBR and when the potential crated area was utilized in full after execution of CAD programme, the cost benefit ratio would be exactly as envisaged in project.
Moreover, showing dismal performance of I&FC Department, out of 640 Minor Irrigation schemes including (Jammu: 377; Kashmir: 263) due for completion during the period 2009-14, a total of 400 MI schemes (Jammu: 148; Kashmir 189) were completed after time overrun of one of seven years. |
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