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| ADB penalizes ERA for inefficiency, shelves Rs.519.5 Cr projects | | Jammu's flyover unlikely to come-up | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
Early Times report
JAMMU, Oct 17: Asian Development Bank has rejected Jammu and Kashmir government's request to finance four major developmental projects, two each in the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar, costing Rs.519.5 crore.
Bank has not only rejected the government's request but also given detailed reasoning for the same. It has raised serious objections over the detailed project reports (DPRs) which were prepared and submitted to it by Jammu and Kashmir government's much hyped Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) for perusal and later on for funding.
Bank in one of its review mission reports, copy of which is with early times, has raised serious doubts over the ability of ADB to handle such mega projects. It has asked the agency to go for reforms alongside revamping the entire set-up. The first major project whose DPR has been rejected is Rs. 144 crore project for rehabilitation and strengthening of water supply system in Jammu city.
Under the project, ERA had proposed to lay 379 kilometer of distribution pipes, replace 168 units of pumps, drill 20 units of tube wells drilled and construct 20 units of overhead tanks. Bank has after reviewing the project report commented that technical rational of the subproject is unclear while subproject is not part of water supply master plan for Jammu city.
On these ground, Bank has said that since site locations are not finalized but indicative, and their legal ownership and willingness of the owners, the project requires fundamental reconsideration. The second project whose DPR has not been approved for funding is Rs. Rs.139.5 crore project for constructing elevated express corridor from Jehangir Chowk to Rambagh-Natipora in Srinagar city.
The project has settlement cost of 49.5 crore. ADB has said that strategic importance of the flyover in overall urban planning is not well documented in SAR in the absence of a city mobility plan. It has added that being a major structure in the city center, the design should have been validated by a reputed third-party institution. Citing these reasons, ADB has refused to fund the project.
Another project costing Rs.67.5 crore under which ERA had proposed to construct storm water drains in adjoining areas of National Highway Bypass in Srinagar city has not been approved for funding by ADB on the grounds that technical rationale and outcome of the subproject is unclear while technical feasibility is in doubt due to absence of modeling and investigation.
ADB has further said that downstream of the drainage system (such as trunk drains and main drains) are covered under the loan but its physical progress is only around 30 percent. Bank has further pointed out that unless downstream system is fully developed, upstream of the drainage system will have little use;
ADB has said that since there would be loss of private lands, trees and crops, subproject is not ready and requires re-scoping based on hydraulic modeling. And the last project which has been rejected by ADB is vitally important Rs. 120 crore project proposed by ERA for construction of flyover from Vikram Chowk to Green Belt crossing in Jammu.
ADB has said that subproject is currently at the initial stage of preparation and will require more than one year time to finalize the scope and prepare bids, following standard engineering practices. It has further stated that requirement of the flyover is unclear in the absence of city mobility plan.
Besides, bank has said that project lacks analytical and factual justification. It has also said that despite knowing that the project would have substantial resettlement impact, ERA has not explained any mechanism for dealing with the same.
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