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| Authenticity of Water Supply Schemes in JK comes under radar | | Schemes executed without JKSWRRA’s nod, shortcomings in DPRs found | | PEERZADA UMMER
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 22: Hundreds of Water Supply Schemes in Jammu and Kashmir have been taken up for the execution without being referred to Jammu & Kashmir State Water Resources Regulatory Authority (JKSWRRA), raising a question mark on the credibility of such schemes and their implementation thereof.
It was in January 2011 that the then Jammu and Kashmir government enacted the J&K Water Resources (Regulation & Management) Act, 2010 which envisages that water supply schemes undertaken by the PHE Department be vetted by the Jammu & Kashmir State Water Resources Regulatory Authority (JKSWRRA) before execution.
However, as per the documents in possession of Early Times, during 2013-18, out of the 247 new schemes taken up for execution by the PHE Department under the programme, only 53 (21 per cent) had been referred to the JKSWRRA against which five schemes had been approved and 48 were returned due to shortcomings in DPR, enclosed checklist, source information, quality of water available, safety and environment measures.
The Department, instead of clearing the shortcomings, executed all the schemes without the approval from JKSWRRA. Out of these 48 WSS, 40 were in the sampled divisions and were ongoing. There was a need that he concerned Chief Engineers would be asked to forward all new schemes for vetting by JKSWRRA before their actual execution. Secretary JKSWRRA has stated that there was no authority in place between October 2015 to November 2017 and the utilities were instructed to get the schemes pertaining to that period approved as a special case by approaching the Government through an appropriate cabinet note as a one-time exception. Government has stated that executing divisions shall be instructed that no schemes under NRDWP shall be taken without vetting by JKSWRRA.
Furthermore, over all fund utilization during 2013-14 to 2017-18 ranged between 86 and 94 percent. There was a difference of Rs 2.01 crore and Rs 5.33 crore in the opening balance as on 1st April 2014 and 1st April 2017 vis-a-vis closing balance of the immediate previous years, which were attributed by the Department to inclusion of interest amount after reconciliation with bank as well as interest received from various divisions on NRDWP funds. There was a decreasing trend in release of funds by GoI during 2014-17, from Rs 474.41 crore (2014-15) to Rs 192.12 crore (2015-16) and Rs 225.14 crore (2016-17). At the beginning of 2017-18 the required balance cost for completion of 873 ongoing water supply schemes was Rs 1586.47 crore, against which only Rs 281.45 crore11 were provided and the balance Rs 1305.02 crore were not released.
Documents reveal further that 873 water supply schemes taken up for execution at an estimated cost of Rs 2,348.38 crore during 2000-01 to 2015-16 remained incomplete due to meager funding (832)/ non-funding (23). In respect of 18 schemes, although entire funds were released and schemes shown as financially completed, but were yet to be commissioned by the department. Completion of the schemes have suffered because of financial constraints and reasons like source disputes, non-finalization of revised DPRs, non-obtaining of forest clearance, land disputes etc.
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