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| Revised guidelines take heavy toll on AIBP schemes in J&K | | | Mustansir
Srinagar, Dec 15 : The revised guidelines for centrally funded water supply and irrigation schemes which came into force from October 2013 have virtually brought the implementation of schemes in Jammu and Kashmir to a grinding halt for the fact that the cash starved hilly state either does not qualify for central assistance or simply fails to provide the state share.
The modified guidelines for funding of the schemes like Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Program (AIBP) provide that the advanced stage of construction would imply that at least 50% of latest approved estimated project cost already incurred by the state government and at least 50% of physical progress of essential works of the project has taken place; and the proposal of the State for inclusion of project under AIBP must be supported by a credible construction schedule indicating the works already executed and works to be executed along with their costs.
Sources in the PHE department told Early Times that most of the schemes sent to the central government for approval and funding have been returned by the union government which has put the state government in a doc as the schemes could not qualify because of the revised guidelines for funding of the centrally sponsored schemes particularly the AIBP for which the funding has essentially to be provided on 50-50 basis which means the state government has to arrange 50% of the total estimation as state share.
The J&K government along with other hilly states like Himachal Pradesh and Utrakhund was receiving the central grant under AIBP at 90:10 ratio till recent past.
Sources said the revised guidelines for the funding of the central sponsored schemes in PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control and Command Area have put a big question mark on the implementation of the schemes in the state given the fact that the state cannot afford to provide 50% state share for the implementation of the new schemes.
They added that about 90 schemes from Kashmir division were recently returned by the union government for they could not qualify under the revised guidelines. They said that for funding Major/Medium and ERM irrigation projects, the revised guidelines provide that the cost at the time of inclusion of any new project in the scheme of AIBP will be frozen for the purpose of working out the quantum of central assistance, with the States being at liberty to fund the project from their own resources after the stipulated date of completion. The stipulated date of completion will be four years starting from the financial year of first release of Central Assistance and excluding year of inclusion. The projects which are not going as per schedule, time extension of maximum two years and escalation of cost by maximum 20% may be allowed based on justifications provided by the State with the approval of Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources.
They said as per the revised guidelines the central assistance (CA) will be in the form of central grant which will be as (a) On-going and new projects benefiting the non-Special Category States may continue to be provided Central Assistance at 25% of the cost apportionable to irrigation and drinking water components. However, the quantum of Central Assistance could be enhanced up to 50% as an incentive for new projects subject to the condition that the States actually carry out water sector reforms as per the reform benchmarks to be laid down by the Ministry of Water Resources in due course. (b) For ongoing projects in Special areas of Non-special Category States, the Central Assistance under AIBP will be 75% of the cost of the project (work component) for eligible irrigation projects (c) For new projects in Special areas of Non-special Category States, the Central Assistance under AIBP will be 75% of the cost of the project (work component) for eligible irrigation projects (d) Ongoing projects and the surface Minor Irrigation schemes benefiting Special Category States (including MI schemes of KBK region of Orissa) may continue to be eligible for 90% Central Assistance. (e) For new projects in Special category States, the Central Assistance under AIBP will be 90% of the cost of the project (work component) for eligible Irrigation projects. (f) For the purpose of determining the quantum of assistance, a project benefiting Desert Development Programme (DDP) area/Desert Prone Area will be treated on a par with those benefiting DPAP areas and the new projects will be eligible for Central Assistance @ 90% for projects in Special Category States, while it will be 75% for projects in Non-Special Category States. The DDP areas will be as identified by the Ministry of Rural Development in their published documents. The ongoing projects already under AIBP and benefiting Desert Development Programme (DDP) /Desert Prone Area will continue to get Central Assistance @ 25%.
Sources said that the situation for Jammu division is even more delicate where the guidelines for harvesting underground waters have been made more complicated. |
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