Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 3: Jammu region has 120 percent more incomplete developmental projects than the Kashmir division. What an Irony! Thanks to the dilatory mode of functioning and step-motherly treatment with Jammu, the projects continue to remain in limbo.
Official documents in possession of Early Times reveal that the incomplete projects that were ought to be executed by the R&B Department in Kashmir are just 33. However, as far as the Jammu division is concerned, the total number of incomplete projects stands at whooping 364.
These latest figures reveal how the vital developmental projects have been left in cold storage in Jammu region.
Documents further, reveal that in Public Health Engineering Department, the total number of incomplete projects for Kashmir division are mere two. However, when it comes to Jammu division, the number of incomplete projects in the PHE Department is 23.
Similarly, in Irrigation and Flood Control Department, there is only one incomplete project in Kashmir. However, the same is five times more in Jammu division. Documents reveal that there are 428 incomplete projects costing Rs one crore or above with target date of completion during 2012-13 to 2017-18. These incomplete projects had a total sanctioned cost of Rs 1,463.32 crore revised to Rs 1,497.03 crore. Reasons for cost revision were awaited (September 2018) from these Departments. An amount of Rs 569.62 crore had been expended on these incomplete projects. Of 428 incomplete projects, 10 projects were delayed by more than one year, 12 projects delayed by more than five years, and the remaining 406 projects which were to be completed in 2017-18 were also incomplete.
Thus, the blocking of funds on incomplete projects/works impinged negatively on the quality of expenditure and deprived the State of the intended benefits for prolonged periods.
Early Times has in the past already reported how the incomplete projects have been draining the exchequer ruthlessly and cost overruns affecting the public purse. a total expenditure of Rs 393 crore was incurred up to the year 2016-17 by the State Government on various incomplete projects costing more one crore which have been taken up by the Water Works Department, Public Works Department, and Public Health & Engineering Department, Power Development Department.
During 2016-17, the Government of India released Rs 8,157.17 crore out of which 7,848.90 crore as Grant-in-Aid was routed through Reserve Bank of India to State Government for implementation of 67 Schemes (both State Plan and Central Plan). The State Government, however, placed budgetary provision of only Rs 6,488.07 crore under 22 schemes in approved Demand for Grants 2016-17. |
