How vested interests promote corruption in new ways and manifestations is best reflected by the sordid story of the 1600 mt span 206.90 crore worth Pargwal-Khour Bridge over the mighty Chenab in Akhnoor. This project was beset with ill omen from day one and it is now the third year of the floating of the project but still even tenders cannot get finalized. Soon after the announcement of the Union Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways that it would finance the Pargwal Bridge over the Chenab in Akhnoor at a cost of about 206.90 crore rupees some unease could be discerned in the JKPCC, a subsidiary of the R&B Department.
With the passage of time, it was known that there are some insiders who have some ulterior motives and they are using all their influence to see to it that the financial contract does not go in favour of any one of the three successful bidders. Three non-state construction companies have bided for the project and have even deposited earnest money to the tune of 10 crore rupees. Before the preliminaries would be completed for the project, a Public Interest Litigation was filed in the State High Court seeking cancellation of tenders. However, the court dismissed the petition. After clearance from the court, it should have been simple for the JKPCC to announce the financial tender and proceed with the matter. Instead what the JKPCC did was that it kept the opening of the tenders pending for 13 months and then suddenly one fine morning announced that it had cancelled all tenders. This means that now another year or two will be required to complete the tendering process and by that time the central authorities may be disposed off to announce de-sanctioning of the project owing to incompetence of the State Government to implement the project for a number of years.
The people of the Khour-Pargwal-Jourian area have been demanding the construction of the bridge over Chenab for so many years because they have great difficulty in connectivity. Pargwal is surrounded by Pakistan border and the waters of Chenab and during Pak firing it is difficult for the local residents to seek shelter elsewhere. Only a small road along a canal links Pargwal Island. What is more, for about three continuous days the people and their MLA held protest in front of the JKPCC against cancellation of the tenders. The JKPCC played a trick to defuse the dharna by making a false show of it beginning the construction work for three days after which it suddenly cancelled the tenders.
There is no doubt that some elements behind the curtain are sabotaging the project. They are not interested that some reputed construction company should undertake the construction of Rs 207 crore project. There are reports that JKPCC has no adequate paraphernalia or manpower to undertake the construction of the bridge itself or through its choice agency. There seems no sense in R&B making JKPCC its client when the latter has no manpower and technical knowhow and equipment. It is a clear case of vested interests.
This is a blatant story of internal sabotage of the project and elements with self aggrandizement are working to scuttle it. If the Government does not intervene there is every possibility that the project will be de-sanctioned and all hopes of bringing relief to more than 25,000 people will be dashed to ground. We highlighted the facets of this issue more than once in these columns. The Government should set up an inquiry committee to look into the functioning, assets, manpower, and functional capability of the JKPCC because there are strong complaints against it from the public.
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