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| Rampant corruption in the construction of the Jagati Camp? | | Woes & Apprehensions of Displaced K Hindus | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 10: Anybody who visits the so-called township for the internally-displaced Kashmiri Hindus at Jagati will find the residents talking in the morning or evening hours in groups about the "mismanagement" in the affairs of the management of the mega camp. And, the perceptible eyes will also see the fear in the eyes of the residents while they narrate their vows. They are afraid of the prying eyes and ears of the agents of the Relief Organization who might report about them with the authorities in the Relief Organization and eventually stop their monthly relief in cash and kind for one or the other reason. "To make us conform to their views they issue re-verification threats of our migrant cards and this means we have to go and beg and eventually toe their line if we have to survive," say some of the aggrieved residents of Jagati township.
While the Relief Commissioner's office moved to assure the residents of Jagati Camp that "most of their problems would be addressed in a month's time" after the community leaders raised hue and cry about the affairs in the camp, some "propped up leaders by the same organization moved in to intimidate the camp dwellers telling them that their woes will only increase if they do not behave". General opinion in the camp is that the "Relief Organization of the government is acting less as a relief organization and more as a political affairs department of the ruling parties with the main objective of modulating the opinion of displaced Kashmiri Hindus, creating a pliable and collaborating group of leaders who endorse government views".
A social activist working in the camp said, "We are seeing a human rights situation in the camps where residents are forced to conform to the government view and the threat which is brandished is the stoppage of the relief of those who complain." Reports are galore that "what is to be spoken or not to the visiting dignitaries to the camp or delegations who take stock of the situation of the internally-displaced Hindus in Jammu is being meticulously and ruthlessly monitored by the Relief Commissioner's office". While the situation of stress at Jagati is becoming more pronounced, the whispers about "rampant corruption in the construction of the Jagati Camp" are gradually becoming a depressing din. The issues being discussed are not propaganda or mere chat issues. Some very basic questions are being asked and unless the state government addresses them with sensitivity and responsibility we will only see that the government credibility will sink deeper down. After collecting and compiling the issues being debated in hushed tones in the Jagati Camp and also amongst displaced Kashmiri Hindus living outside the camp, one in the larger public good is compelled to pose certain questions to the state government, the concerned ministry and the department so that they address them earnestly to set the doubts to rest.
Is it a fact that the Jagati Camp had to be completed in a "stipulated time" of two years? Why is it that even after four years after the start of the project the work is still unfinished? What were the reasons for the delay in the completion of the work?
Is it a fact that "initial estimates about the financial implications of the project were less than two hundred crores and the final cost of the project has almost doubled to just less than 400 crores"? What have been the reasons for the cost escalation of the project?
What were the "procedures followed to allot the work to construction companies" and did these "procedures conform to the stipulated norms" or were there exceptions made in this for one reason or the other?
Is it a fact that the "steel cup boards installed in the quarters were under gauged"? Is it a fact that after this came to light the government made "under rate payments" which are a crime and this was one of the main reasons for which "a vigilance case has been initiated"? Is it true that the "Kitchen shelves installed have also been under gauged"? Is it true that the "steel cupboards in the quarters at Jagati have been paid at the rate of Rs 11000/ cupboard while the market price of the same is less than Rs 7000".
Is it a fact that as per the "original project report the Jagati Camp of two room quarters, roughly around 4000 in number, had to have a sewerage treatment plant for the disposal of sewerage because the water table in this area was higher"? Why was not this sewerage plant constructed? What reasons prompted such a decision? Has the "decision of construction of septic tanks, soakage pits and drainage system anyway benefitted the company which was allotted the work"? Was the "depth of the pits at the previous camp sites 10 feet"? Are the "pits dug at Jagati of lesser depth," if so, why?
Is it a fact that the "construction company which was allotted the work at Jagati was given a mobilization advance worth crores and the company actually started the work without any involvement of its own capital"? Did the "government provide the construction company with also a secured advance for material costs and also provided the rate of escalation"? Is it true that "in time bound projects such incentives are not provided"?
What have been the "antecedents of the companies" which have been "allotted the work of steel cupboards and kitchen shelves"?
Is it true that the "government gave the responsibility of recruiting the class 4 employees as per the Prime Minister's employment package to relief commissioner"? Why was it done?
Jagati Camp is spread over an area of more than 1000 canals. Besides building the two room quarters, the work also involved building roads parks, community halls etc. Is it true that the "state government deployed only 8 engineers to supervise the work"? Is it true that "work of such a magnitude should have at least 50 engineers supervising it"? What was the reason that the "government entrusted this sensitive job to a small coterie"?
Is it true that "Jagati construction was done on post-specification norms"? Is it true that "while doing the plaster work 1:4 ratio was not followed in respect of the utilization of cement"?
Is it true that the "wood work done in the quarters was not as per the specified norm of using A class wood and instead a B class wood has been used for the purpose"? Is it true that the "sanitary items and electric items approved by the select committee headed by the Chief-Secretary of the state government were arbitrarily changed and replaced by other cheaper brands"?
Last but not the least, is it true that the "steel used in the beams, slabs, pillars was not of the standard qualifications". Usually for such constructions steel is ISI mark purchased from steel Authority of India. Has the "proper steel quality been used in the construction"? If not, does it pose any danger to the safety of the entire structure being built at Jagati?
The Government needs to reassure the public at large about such "doubts and apprehension". In case there is a "dereliction of duty", then immediate steps need to be taken and accountability fixed. The last question is the vigilance probe going at a proper pace and is the whole gamut of issues being examined by them? |
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