No response to repeated tenders for some works
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 8: In a testimony of snail’s pace work, only one project has been completed under Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) in Leh district despite lapse of nearly three years. Moreover, no time-frame has been specified for completion of all other projects, which otherwise are of immense importance for better connectivity and mitigation of damages due to floods.
The PMDP was announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir on November 7, 2015 and since then progress on the projects sanctioned under the package is being monitored by the Central Government as well as senior functionaries of the State Government periodically.
“However, the execution of projects in Leh district has yet not picked up momentum till date although nearly three years have already lapsed since the announcement of the package”, official sources told EXCELSIOR while disclosing that out of eight projects being executed at an estimated cost of Rs 1500 lakh only one has been completed till date although funds have been released to the concerned authorities.
Against Rs 1499.90 lakh released to the concerned authorities, expenditure of only Rs 540.41 lakh has been made by the concerned executing agencies till date. A 70 meters span steel rope trolley bridge at Jingchen Lingshed is the only project which has been completed at a cost of Rs 5.45 lakh so far.
Giving project wide details, sources said that for re-construction of 72 meters span motorable steel bridge over Zansker river at Tschuthang expenditure of Rs 279 lakh has been made till date against released amount of Rs 543.95 lakh. “The project was supposed to be completed by ending July this year but it has missed the deadline and 20% work is yet to be completed by the concerned agencies”, they informed.
As far as re-construction of 40 meters span foot suspension bridge over Zansker river at Wari Dho and construction of 25 meters foot suspension bridge over river Zanskar at Nyerak are concerned, not even a single penny has been expended till date although funds to the tune of Rs 70 lakh and Rs 31.60 lakh respectively have already been released.
“For foot suspension bridge at Wari Dho tenders were invited many times but there was no response and work has again been tendered”, sources said, adding “for foot suspension bridge at Nyerak allotment is under process”.
Similarly, only superstructure has been procured as far as construction of 60 meters span steel girder arch type bridge at Baldais over Indus river is concerned. For this project, an amount of Rs 458.74 lakh has already been released to the concerned authorities.
“The progress on reconstruction of double storied rest house building at Bema is also not up to the desired level”, sources said while disclosing that against availability of Rs 129.86 lakh expenditure of only Rs 44.37 lakh has been made till date. The RCC slab has been laid for the first floor and finishing work is under progress.
For flood protection works along river Indus at Nimoo, an amount of Rs 70.95 lakh has been expended against availability of Rs 117.80 lakh. “The work has been completed on 1150 meters only so far”, sources informed.
About flood protection work along river Indus at Bema, sources said that channelization of 350 meters has been completed besides flood protection bund at Alchi and Baldesh. “Work worth Rs 49 lakh has been completed on the project having total cost of Rs 142.50 lakh”, they added.
When contacted, an officer of the district administration confirmed that only one project has been completed till date. He, however, expressed inability to specify timeframe for completion of other projects, which otherwise are of immense importance from connectivity and flood protection point of view.
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