Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 30: Irrigation and Flood Control Department has allegedly incurred and expenditure of Rs 12 crore on various works from Special Plan Assistance in contravention of the conditions envisaged in Prime Minister's package for floods.
Sources told Early Times that around 55 works were sanctioned under Special Plan Assistance (SPA) in four divisions including Irrigation Division-II Jammu, Flood Control Divisions Jammu, Anantnag and Srinagar at an estimated cost of Rs 14 crore, but were not depicted in the damage reports prepared by the Department and an expenditure of Rs 10 crore which was incurred on these works till 2016. "Similarly, nine Lift Irrigation Schemes of Akhnoor at the estimated cost of Rs 2 crore were sanctioned under SPA despite the fact that these schemes had started during 2007-08 to 2011-12 and were under implementation under Centrally Sponsored Scheme /District Sector Schemes at the time of the floods. The department incurred an expenditure of Rs 1 crore on these schemes and none of the schemes were completed in 2016," they said.
They further said that funds worth Rs 1 crore meant for re-building damaged infrastructure were utilized on mulba clearance, POL, payment of wages to casual labourers, construction of pre-existing schemes and payment of consultancy charges.
Pertinent to mention here that under Prime Minister's package for floods, Government of India had released Rs 1,000 crore for re-building damaged infrastructure in the State on the conditions that only such projects/schemes will be taken up for restoration which are costing Rs 10 lakh and above, execution of work shall be carried out after completing all codal procedures, all the works shall be executed within the proposed amount and there shall be no cost escalation; and only such schemes/projects will be taken up as have not been funded under the SDRF/State Plan/CSS flexi fund or any other source. |
