Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 26: Alleging large scale irregularities in the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes in the State, chairman of JKNPP and former Minister Harsh Dev Singh has urged upon the Central Vigilance Committee constituted by Govt of India to probe the loot and plunder of funds in PMGSY and MG-NREGA in the State.
In a press statement issued here today, Mr Singh said that the GoI had released thousands of crores under the aforesaid flagship programmes for the State in the past for the development of rural areas which however, had failed to create any visible impact on the ground. He said that several schemes though, covered and completed in papers were hardly tangible on the ground with the funds sanctioned for the same having been siphoned off by vested interests. He said that there were widespread public complaints with regard to the functioning of aforesaid flagship programmes in the State but the authorities concerned had turned a deaf ear to the same for reasons best known to them.
Harsh Dev further said that the National Rural Roads Development Agency (NRRDA) had appointed National Quality Monitors (NQMs) and State Quality Monitors (SQMs) who had pointed out glaring irregularities in the construction of PMGSY roads including inferior quality of works but the State Govt had failed to take the remedial action or to rectify the wrongs and irregularities committed. He said that payments had been released by reckless officers in favour of contractors who had not only violated the PMGSY guidelines, compromised on quality and specified parameters but also had abandoned the contracts half way.
NPP leader alleged that most obnoxious aspect of the unwholesome deals in the functioning such schemes was the repair of PMGSY roads being effected under NREGA. He said that several PMGSY roads in Ramnagar constituency including Dassian-Sail Kori Bair road, Thalora-Tajur road, Bindraban-Sulan road besides, others were being repaired under NREGA which are violative of the spirit of both the schemes. He demanded a high level probe into the fraud. Mr Singh further lambasted the State Govt for its deliberate neglect to appoint Ombudsman for regulating the implementation of MG-NREGA scheme and to check the pilferage of Rural Development and Employment Guarantee funds.
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