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| No effective monitoring mechanism in J&K, quality compromised in developmental projects | | | Bashir Assad
SRINAGAR, Sept 6: In a glaring case of official inertia, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has failed to put in place an effective monitoring mechanism to monitor developmental works being executed by various departments and Government agencies particularly in Road Connectivity sector across the State.
Though a third party monitoring system was introduced with much fanfare, however, the parties rather firms assigned with the job have either come under the influence of the executing agencies or have totally failed in their efforts given the stiff resistance by the executing agencies or the contractors.
However, the fact remains that despite crores of rupees being spent on road connectivity program under State plan and Centrally Sponsored Schemes, the effective monitoring mechanism still remains a distant dream and the programs are marred by poor work quality and underutilization of maintenance funds.
The works being executed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) - a Centrally Sponsored flagship program and State's Public Works Department are marred by poor work quality and under-utilization of maintenance funds. In many divisions, Executive Engineers are engaging labourers through mates (contractors) for execution of works without restoring to the tendering process and huge sums are paid to these mates through the medium of hand receipts (meant for making petty payment).
Earlier, in the month of April the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India report on State Finances had revealed that the State Government has failed to introduce an effective monitoring mechanism, however, there is no improvement in situation as the monitoring is virtually non-existent in the department entrusted with the job to keep the roads in good shape in Jammu and Kashmir.
Not only this, delay in release of funds by the Planning and Finance Departments was seen at all the levels which adversely affects the implementation of programs.
Though Roads and Buildings Kashmir, JK Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) and other executing agencies, for their own wrongs, have started a tirade against the Jammu and Kashmir Cements Ltd accusing the public sector understanding of not providing timely delivery of cement for the developmental projects, yet the figures available with the Early Times suggest that JK Cements is fully catering to the projected demands of all the departments including R&B, JKPCC, Rural Developmental Department, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control.
However, shortfall in achievement of targets was witnessed in developmental projects being executed by R&B and JKPCC for obvious reasons.
On the other hand the status report of Centre about implementation of the flagship scheme in JK reveals that Government of India-appointed National Quality Monitors (NQM) have found a high percentage of the completed works are not up to the mark in the State. "It has been found during NQM inspections carried out between November 2010 and June 2012 that a high percentage - 35% of completed works were found unsatisfactory," the report reads.
The report says that State Quality Monitors have also found that the construction of roads executed under the flagship scheme were also unsatisfactory.
What could be more embarrassing for the State Government, the physical performance in PMGSY has also been below the mark as against 1177 habitations cleared only 1042 were connected by roads up to the year 2011-12.
"Since inception of the scheme and up to the year 2011-12, a total of 1,777 habitations have been cleared for connecting with all-weather road by constructing 7,011 km of road length. Against this, the State has connected 1,042 habitations by constructing 2,973 km of road length," the report adds.
"While expanding the rural road-network, the challenge also lies with maintaining the new infrastructure being created. Though there is 5-year maintenance in-built in the programme, the State has been lagging in ensuring the same," the report reads.
According to the details, the expenditure against maintenance has been very low as Rs one crore has been utilized during past two years against the release of nearly Rs 1100 crore.
It is pertinent to mention here that Centre has repeatedly expressed dismay over poor performance of State Government vis-a-vis PMGSY. |
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