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| 'J&K's developmental claims deflated' | | Quality standards compromised, utilisation of funds dismal | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, June 10: Despite being tourist destination, Jammu and Kashmir has failed to maintain quality standards and utilise funds meant for developmental works.
Hasty works at the end of the financial year to consume balance funds has ultimately resulted both in wastage of money and is being unable to maintain quality standards in works. These observations have been made by parliamentary standing committee on transport, tourism and culture in its 152nd report on action taken by government on recommendations of committee contained in its 140th report on promotion of tourism.
Committee pointed out shortfalls in expenditure of budgetary allocations in almost every project in Jammu and Kashmir while saying that there is huge delay on the physical progress of works and under utilization of funds. Taking into account the fact that 50 tourist villages had been identified for tourism development at a cost of Rs.35 crore, the committee pointed out that out of these, 9 tourist villages were sanctioned by Ministry of Tourism at a cost of Rs.5.06 crore.
It added that only 5 villages have since been completed. When the state government was asked, they reasoned that 34 projects are pending with Union Ministry of Tourism for sanction. State requested the committee that projects should expeditiously be cleared for development works. When the committee took up the issue with Union Ministry, they found out that the ministry had examined 29 rural tourism projects submitted by Jammu and Kashmir government.
Of these 29, Union Ministry returned 20 projects back to the state government since they contained certain deficiencies. The ministry clarified that they have asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to re-submit the projects as per the scheme guidelines so that the same could be approved at the earliest. Committee advised the state government that timely implementation of the projects will result in better utilization of funds.
Further, the committee informed the government that expenditure blue print would help in implementing the plans step by step in an organized way. Committee noted with concern that a large number of tourism projects were sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Tourism for J&K during the last three years (2008-2011), but the pace of their progress has been very slow. It did accept state government's plea that pace was slow due to adverse weather, shortage of working days as well as manpower but not before saying that whatever the reasons, state should have kept these in mind while preparing work plan.
State government agreed to shortfall in the utilization of funds released by central government but maintained that it was primarily due to the fact that major tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir remained snow bound and therefore cut-off for a considerable period resulting into road-block and shortage of men and material. State government suggested that if projects were sanctioned by October-November, it would enable them to make use of non-working months for completing pre-construction procedures so that work immediately starts after snow melts.
Committee recommended that union government should consider modifying norms for release of funds to the state keeping in mind the topography and difficult terrain of the region and ensure that projects do not lag behind for want of funds at any time during the financial year. Committee also desired that there should be proper co-ordination with the state government so as to obtain utilization certificates.
Committee was informed that posts particularly at key positions were lying vacant for years. Taking this into account, committee asked the state government to fill up all the vacant posts especially the key-positions, at the earliest so that the infrastructure development projects were not unduly delayed.
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