Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 5: Notwithstanding repeated and explicit directions from the Union and State Governments, 12 Development Authorities have failed to submit Utilization Certificates (UCs) of amount more than Rs 42 crore, which was provided for creation of tourism related infrastructure under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP).
As per the latest status report of the Union Government with regard to implementation of tourism projects sanctioned under the PMRP, which was announced by the Prime Minister during his visit to the State on November 17-18, 2004, the Utilization Certificates (UCs) in respect of over Rs 42 crore worth works under tourism sector have not been submitted by the Development Authorities till July 31, 2012.
“The Development Authorities have failed to strictly adhere to the repeated directions from the Union as well as State Governments despite the fact that delay in submission of Utilization Certificates hampers the flow of remaining funds for the ongoing projects as well as new projects”, sources said.
Kokernag Development Authority is on the top of the list of these 12 authorities as it has yet to submit Utilization Certificates of Rs 7.37 crore worth works. The UCs in respect of this development authority are pending for the project sanctioned during 2008-09 financial year, the report said, adding it has yet to submit UCs of Rs 5.35 crore worth two projects sanctioned in 2008-09, Rs 65.76 lakh project sanctioned in 2009-10 and Rs 1.36 crore worth two works sanctioned in 2011-12 financial year.
Kishtwar Development Authority is at number two place in the list of defaulting authorities as it has not submitted Utilization Certificates of Rs 6.36 crore worth projects sanctioned from 2009-10 onwards. For the financial year 2009-10, the UCs are pending for Rs 3.26 crore worth projects. Similarly, UCs of over Rs 3 crore worth works sanctioned in 2010-11 are yet to be submitted by the Kishtwar Development Authority till date.
Likewise, Utilization Certificates of Rs 5.24 crore worth projects sanctioned for execution through Bhaderwah Development Authority have not been submitted to the concerned authorities in Union Government. The pending UCs for 2010-11 financial year are relating to Rs 4.30 crore worth works while as remaining are of the works sanctioned during 2011-12.
As per the report, Gulmarg and Poonch Development Authorities have not furnished the Utilization Certificates only for the projects sanctioned during 2011-12 financial year. While Gulmarg Development Authority has to submit UCs of Rs 79.65 lakh worth works, the Poonch Development Authority has to furnish UCs of only Rs 75.83 lakh worth projects, which were sanctioned during last financial year.
Patnitop Development Authority has not submitted the UCs of Rs 58.82 lakh Authority has not submitted the UCs of Rs 1.03 crore worth projects sanctioned during 2008-09 financial year, Rs 1.47 crore worth project sanctioned in 2010-11 and Rs 64.62 lakh work sanctioned in 2012-13. The Pahalgam Development Authority has failed to submit UCs of Rs 2.34 crore worth works sanctioned in 2008-09 and Rs 84.96 lakh worth project sanctioned in 2012-13.
The Utilization Certificates in respect of Rs 4.48 crore worth projects are yet to be submitted by the Sonamarg Development Authority while as UCs of Rs 1.84 crore worth project are pending with Rajouri Development Authority. The Lakhanpur Sarthal Development Authority has also not submitted UCs of Rs 2.49 crore worth works while as Leh Development Authority has to submit UCs of Rs 5.21 crore worth works.
According to the report, UCs in respect of Rs 1.71 crore worth works are yet to be submitted by the Kargil Development Authority.
Sources said that though following the directions of Tourism Minister, Nawang Rigjin Jora some months back, these Development Authorities geared up the process of submitting the Utilization Certificates yet the Minister should keep on pulling up the concerned officers so that further release of funds from the Union Government under PMRP for tourism sector don’t get delayed due to the slackness of the officers of these development authorities in submitting UCs of already released funds.
“The Tourism Minister, who left no stone unturned in getting financial assistance from the Union Government for tourism promotion in all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir, must make the officers of these Development Authorities accountable for strict adherence to the repeated directions of Union as well as State Government”, sources further said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel