| Rs 6.85 cr in limbo as JKPCCL constructs bridge without approval for revised cost | | Corporation executes sub structure work without adequate funds, super structure work without authorization from NABARD | | PEERZADA UMMER
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 7: There was a non-reimbursement of Rs 6.85 crores as Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Limited (JKPCCL) constructed a bridge over Darhali Nallah, Ujjhan in Rajouri without ensuring the approval of revised cost offers and release of funds.
As per the official documents in possession of Early Times newspaper, the Public Works Department, the Project Authority (PA) awarded in April 1998 construction of single lane steel super-structure bridge to provide access to the local population of the villages (Dhandkot, Kassian and Danna, Khurd, Leeran, Madhoon, Maluth, Nadian and Ujjhan) of the District Rajouri, along with the approach roads over Darhali Nallah at Ujjhan (Rajouri) at an estimated cost of Rs 3.00 crore (Bridge: Rs 1.50 crore; approach road: Rs 1.50 crore) , to the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Limited (JKPCCL). The work was to be completed within 30 months of the award of the contract that took place in October 2000.
Documents reveal that JKPCCL submitted two revised cost offers between June 2004 and July 2009 of the project to the Project Authority. The scope of work was revised in June 2012 from 162 metre single lane to 178 metre (44.5 m x 4) span single lane bridge, and the cost had to be further revised to Rs 13.75 crore.
Furthermore, though the revised proposals were not sanctioned and adequate funds were not released, the JKPCCL in January 2011started the work of the sub-structure of the bridge at an estimated cost of Rs 3.40 crore and completed it in May 2011. The Administrative Approval (AA) was conveyed in February 2013 by the Project Authority for construction of the super structure of the bridge at a cost of Rs 6.70 crore under funding from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The AA of the project, inter alia, stipulated that the work shall be taken up for execution only after authorization of funds by the NABARD authority.
The balance work of the bridge including super-structure was allotted in October 2014 to M/s A.K. Constructions at an estimated cost of Rs 5.75 crore. The work, started by the contractor in March 2015, was completed in September 2016. The total value of work done as booked by the JKPCCL was Rs 8.40 crore. Though no further fund was released by the Project Authority, an amount of Rs 5.66 crore was released by the JKPCCL to the contractor between July 2015 and October 2019. Thus, failure of the JKPCCL to restrict the expenditure to receipts of fund led to non-recovery of Rs 6.85 crore (Difference of value of work done (Rs 8.40 crore) and funds receipt (Rs 1.55 crore)) from the Project Authority.
The JKPCCL executed the sub structure work without receipt of adequate funds and the super structure work without authorization of funds from NABARD. Besides, the Administrative Approval on the revised cost offers submitted by the JKPCCL from time to time was not obtained even after the execution of the works. Thereby an excess expenditure of Rs 6.85 crore incurred out of JKPCCL’s own resources which could not be recovered from the Project Authority. |
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